Greinke finished 2015 with a 19-3 record, a 1.66 ERA and a 0.84 WHIP, and the Dodgers can’t afford to lose that production.
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There was no immediate comment from Dodger officials.
Greinke, who we ranked as the top free agent available in anticipation of this decision, is leaving three guaranteed years and $71 million behind by opting out.
Greinke was among 12 additional players who became free agents to raise the total to 151, the Major League Baseball Players Association said Wednesday. His 5.9 fWAR ranked seventh in all of baseball and will rank second among free agent pitchers, behind only David Price who posted a mark of 6.4 last season.
The starting pitcher whom Giants fans covet is officially a free agent. Jon Lester, entering his age-31 season last year, got six years, $155 million from the Cubs, setting up an upper and lower range of sorts for a potential new Greinke contract. Over the course of twelve seasons with the Kansas City Royals, Milwaukee Brewers, Los Angeles Angels, and Los Angeles Dodgers, Greinke has compiled a record of 142-93 with a lifetime ERA of 3.35, an FIP of 3.31, and a K/9 ratio of 8.1. He’s expected to command upwards of $30 million per season. No free agent has accepted a qualifying offer from his previous team the past three years.
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Still, if Greinke is taking calls and another team has more to offer, the starter possibly could be open to leaving California.
