Zack Greinke could very well be back in a Dodgers uniform in 2016, but for now, he's a free agent — who's about to become even richer.
Greinke has decided to opt out of the remaining three years of his contract, the Los Angeles Times reports. It was the expected move, and the right-hander is positioned to easily exceed the $71 million he was due with whatever new deal he gets this winter.
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Greinke won't get the biggest contract for a pitcher this offseason. At 32, he'll see Johnny Cueto (29) and David Price (30) exceed him in years and dollars when the dust settles, but whoever lands Greinke will be getting one of the game's most reliable pitchers.
Greinke is coming off the best season of his career, 19-3 with an MLB-leading 1.66 ERA in 32 regular-season starts for the Dodgers. The 2009 AL Cy Young winner has been considered temperamental in the past but was said to have enjoyed the feel of the Los Angeles clubhouse this season. One question to be answered before he makes his decision is who will replace Don Mattingly as manager and what effect that might have on his thinking.
The Dodgers certainly will have the payroll flexibility to keep him on board, but he'll have other suitors, too.
