The veteran lefty is now the most coveted free agent on the market and recent reports have the 30-year-old likely leaving the Blue Jays, leaving a hole in the starting rotation and making the job for whoever takes over as general manager just a bit tougher.
Mark Shapiro, CEO and President of the team has said finding a new GM is tops on his priority list, but with the free agent market officially opening on Saturday, this franchise can’t relax and lose out on a potential star player coming north of the border and possibly taking the place of Price on the roster.
Bleacher Report has listed the top available players this off season and Zack Greinke is second and one player this team should target. The 32-year-old was nearly traded to Toronto back in 2010 and losing out on the ace starter probably cost this team at least one division title in that time period.
The good news for this franchise and its fans: the veteran opted-out of his deal with the LA Dodgers a few weeks back and several sources have indicated he would like to play for a team in a smaller market.
Greinke was very impressive in 2015, winning 19 games and posting an incredible 1.66 ERA. With at least 15 wins per year over the last five MLB seasons and a career mark of 142-93, he would be a great addition to the Blue Jays rotation and the type of player that could lead this franchise to the World Series.
The biggest issue this off season will be money and how much this franchise is willing to spend. There are a number of pitchers available and some with a much smaller price tag, but after a successful 2015 season, making a big move will generate a buzz with the fans and let the baseball world know this team is serious about being a regular contender for a title.
