The 31-year-old still has three years and over $70 million left on his current deal, but CBS Sports has reported that the veteran will exercise a clause in his deal and hit the open market. The news doesn’t come as much surprise to the team, but losing the veteran right-handed pitcher will hurt their chances of making the post season for a fourth straight season in 2016.
Of course with this news comes rumors and several have already hit social media, including the possibility of a return to the American League with the NY Yankees.
Greinke is coming off a terrific season in Southern California with a 19-3 record and a superb 1.66 ERA. The move to opt-out will allow the veteran to sign a new deal with any team and baseball experts predict he will fetch in the vicinity of $25-30 million per year for upwards of six years.
With that kind of salary demand, several MLB teams will not have the resources to sign the former first round draft pick, but it does give New York a leg up on the competition with their financial situation.
The Yankees lost out over the second half of the season and many believe the fact the front office didn’t add another front line starter at the trade deadline had a major impact on the team. New York will need to correct that over the off season and adding a pitcher like Greinke will help the Bronx Bombers compete with the likes of Toronto and the rest of the AL East in 2016.
Los Angeles will also be included in the bidding for the All Star pitcher along with teams like Boston and possibly Texas and whoever lands the talented starter will be a force to reckon with for the next few years.
