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Diamondbacks agree to six-year contract with Zack Greinke

Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports reports that the agreement between Arizona and Greinke is for six years and 6 million.

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The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because there hadn’t been an official announcement.

The Diamondbacks, meanwhile, still may sign another starter: Sources tell Bleacher Report that they’re also engaging in conversations with free-agent right-hander Mike Leake, who finished the season in San Francisco after being traded from Cincinnati and who also pitched locally for Arizona State as a collegian.

The Diamondbacks’ aggressiveness isn’t surprising after they reportedly offered free agent Johnny Cueto a six-year, 0 million contract earlier in the week.

Greinke’s contract would average $34.4 million per year, surpassing the seven-year, $217 million deal ($31 million average per year) that David Price signed this week with the Boston Red Sox. Despite Greinke’s historic finish, he ended up second in NL Cy Young Award voting behind Chicago’s Jake Arrieta.

“We made a very strong offer to retain Zack but clearly he found a deal that fit better for him and his family”, Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman said in a statement Friday, according to ESPN.

The Arizona Diamondbacks unveiled their snazzy new uniforms one day, then landed a new ace to wear them the next.

The Dodgers as it stands hold the 24th, 30th and 36th picks of the 2016 draft (this will change often throughout the season with various signings), and would prefer not to surrender their first-round pick in signing a free agent if they can avoid it.

Dodgers minority owner Magic Johnson was aware Greinke would be expensive, but said Tuesday that re-signing him was a priority. The Dodgers also receive a compensation-round pick and will have three picks among the top 50 next June.

The Diamondbacks improved their win-loss record last season by 15 games, the third-biggest jump in the National League behind the Cubs (plus-24) and Mets (plus-21). Greinke had a scoreless streak of 45 2-3 innings this summer. Corbin made just 16 starts last season, but showed flashes of his former All-Star form in his first season back from Tommy John surgery where he finished with a 3.60 ERA. His departure figures to be a setback for the Dodgers, whose rotation now consists of Clayton Kershaw and a series of wild cards.

Greinke was durable, pitching 222⅔ innings.

All that wealth did them little good with Greinke.

He’ll join the staff of new manager Don Mattingly, the Marlins said Friday.

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The Dodgers pushed well beyond their financial comfort zone – not because they could not afford the money, but because history shows few investments tend to be greater follies than guaranteed money to a pitcher in his late 30s.

Zack Greinke #21 of the Los Angeles Dodgers