It’s been a disappointing start for Zack Greinke with the Arizona Diamondbacks. Is it that bad that after signing him on a $206.5 million contract, they’re already considering trading him?
Some people actually think that’s the best thing for the Diamondbacks, thinking they can take advantage of the market that is starving for the starting pitcher type as we get closer to the time trades start to happen, or at least get taken more seriously.
Dave Cameron of Fangraphs thinks it’s the best option for Arizona, starting the 2016 season with a 23-31 record, second from the bottom in the NL West, already trailing the San Francisco Giants by 10 games, and not looking anywhere close to being good enough for a Wild Card spot either, at least not right now.
The sad thing for the Diamondbacks is that they were planning on winning now. Their additions of Shelby Miller (also very disappointing, but younger, so they won’t give up on him yet), Greinke and Tyler Chipper made the decision makers in the franchise think that they’re going to do a lot better than their 79-83 record from last season. However, the new signings haven’t been exactly living up to expectations, and the Diamondbacks seem to be missing too many players, too much quality in too many positions and overall depth. A.J. Pollock suffering a season-ending injury didn’t help.
Wait, who says teams will want Greinke? He’s getting paid an enormous amount of money with no option to get out of the contract, and has been pitching terribly by his standards: He is 6-3 in his 11 starts but with a 4.71 ERA and a 1.302 WHIP, his worst numbers in over a decade.
As we mentioned before, teams are missing starting pitchers, and there are a few teams with the pockets to swallow Greinke’s deal. It’s more likely than not that he’ll bounce back from this rough patch, and he probably serves as the best hope for the Diamondbacks to move someone and improve right away, while also padding their future with prospects and young players regarded as “sure things”.