Report: D-Backs, Greinke agree to 6-year, $206.5M deal
On a day when David Price formalized one of the most expensive contracts in baseball history, Zack Greinke wasn't about to be outdone.
The Arizona Diamondbacks have agreed to a six-year, $206.5-million deal with Greinke, according to multiple reports.
That would give Greinke an average annual value of $34.41 million, besting Price's $31 million per annum mark for the largest in baseball history. However, about $60 million in deferred monies will be paid out in the first five years following the six-year deal.
Related: Greinke deal shocks baseball, breaks Twitter
The news comes shortly after FOX Sports' Ken Rosenthal reported the Diamondbacks were aggressively pursuing the right-hander to headline their inexperienced rotation.
PROJECTED ROTATION BEFORE GREINKE
| PITCHER | W-L | IP | ERA | SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Patrick Corbin | 6-5 | 85 | 3.60 | 78 |
| Rubby De La Rosa | 14-9 | 188 2/3 | 4.67 | 150 |
| Robbie Ray | 5-12 | 127 2/3 | 3.52 | 119 |
| Archie Bradley | 2-3 | 35 2/3 | 5.80 | 23 |
| Chase Anderson | 6-6 | 152 2/3 | 4.30 | 111 |
The 32-year-old finished second in National League Cy Young voting last season pitching for the Los Angeles Dodgers, and boasted a major league-best 1.66 ERA, and 0.84 WHIP. He's a three-time All-Star, and earned American League Cy Young honors with the Kansas City Royals in 2009. Greinke is drawing comparisons to Hall of Famer Greg Maddux for his pinpoint control, and he's been incredibly durable throughout his 12-year career.
GREINKE'S LAST 5 YEARS
| YEAR | IP | ERA | ERA+ | WHIP | SO9 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 222.2 | 1.66 | 225 | 0.84 | 8.1 |
| 2014 | 202.1 | 2.71 | 129 | 1.15 | 9.2 |
| 2013 | 177.2 | 2.63 | 135 | 1.11 | 7.5 |
| 2012 | 212.2 | 3.48 | 115 | 1.19 | 8.5 |
| 2011 | 171.2 | 3.83 | 103 | 1.20 | 10.5 |
Greinke has enjoyed moderate success at Chase Field throughout the years, posting a 6-2 mark with a 3.34 ERA, and 1.31 WHIP, in 10 outings.
Arizona very quietly earned 15 more wins last season than it did in 2014, and ranked in the top 10 in the majors in a number of offensive categories, including runs per game (eighth), batting average (seventh), OPS (ninth), and stolen bases (second). With the addition of Greinke, the Diamondbacks could compete for a playoff berth in 2016.