With an opt out clause and coming off his best season, Zack Greinke might take advantage of the offseason to upgrade his contract, with the Los Angeles Dodgers or someone else.
Greinke, who now is into the offseason after the Dodgers lost to the New York Mets in the NLDS, finished with a 19-3 record in 32 starts, posting a 1.66 ERA, the best in the majors. His ERA+ and WHIP were also better than anyone else, and that’s not easy to do with Clayton Kershaw as your teammate.
The Dodgers can’t really afford to lose Greinke. Behind Kershaw and him the rotation is far from solid and while each postseason brings in new problems for this team to deal with, asking the questions why the highest payroll in baseball can’t get to the World Series, having Greinke on the team is obviously a plus, not something holding them back.
Greinke has three more years worth $71 million on his deal with the Dodgers, but the 32 year old will probably look for $25 million a season over five years and maybe more for his next deal. Not too many teams around the league can offer that, but it’ll certainly provide competition for the Dodgers, who’ll be trying hard to retain him.
Greinke himself, like any true potential free agent who has time before he makes up his mind, sounded vague, not willing to declare his future: It would be nice to be back with the Dodgers. I’m not even thinking about it. It’s more about today, I guess. Maybe after I get home. The three-time All-Star has been with the Dodgers since 2013, posting a 51-15 record with a 2.30 ERA, playing the best baseball of his career.