MLB Trade Rumors: Phillies Targeting Cy Young Winner, Why Zack Greinke To Philadelphia Makes Sense

Don’t be surprised if Zack Greinke is the best pitcher moved ahead of the 2019 MLB trade deadline. Teams are reportedly interested in the right-hander, and there are multiple reasons to believe the Arizona Diamondbacks would be willing to deal their ace.

Arizona tried to trade Greinke in the offseason after they sent Paul Goldschmidt to the St. Louis Cardinals. When the Diamondbacks couldn’t find a suitable offer for the veteran, they reportedly determined it would be best to wait and make a trade closer to July 31.

The Diamondbacks probably didn’t expect to contend for a playoff spot after losing a few of their top players during the winter. In addition to trading Goldschmidt, Arizona let Patrick Corbin and A.J. Pollock walk in free agency.

Three games out of the final NL postseason spot, Arizona is a surprising playoff contender. The Diamondbacks still have little chance to make noise in October with a .500 record through 102 games.

MLB Network’s Jon Heyman has reported that Arizona might be willing to pay as much as $10 million of the $80 million left on Greinke’s contract. Greinke’s deal and age might not make him the most desirable trade candidate, but he’s a proven commodity with a resume that dwarfs that of almost any available pitcher.

Greinke ranks second in WHIP and sixth in ERA in the NL, coming off his fifth All-Star appearance in six years. He won the 2009 AL Cy Young Award with the Kansas City Royals and has since added four top-eight NL Cy Young finishes. If you remove his poor performance in the 2017 NL Wild-Card Game, Greinke has 2.70 ERA in his last seven playoff starts.

Belief is that if they sell Dbacks would be willing to pay down — perhaps by 10M/year — the 80M remaining on Greinke through 2021, depending the return of course. Greinke remains a top starter, but wIth 15-team no-trade list and belief he prefers to stay, deal not overly likely.
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) July 19, 2019

The #Phillies have been scouting and keeping close tabs on #Dbacks starters Zack Greinke and Robbie Ray, who pitches tonight
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) July 22, 2019

Enter the Philadelphia Phillies, who have been keeping tabs on Greinke, according to USA Today’s Bob Nightengale. Philadelphia is one of 15 teams on Greinke’s no-trade list.

The Phillies could make perfect sense for Greinke if he is willing to play in Philadelphia. The organization might be one of the few teams that are ready to pay the rest of Greinke’s record-setting contract. Greinke signed for a historic $34.4 million average annual salary before the 2016 season. Philadelphia handed Bryce Harper a $330 million contract just a few months ago.

Philadelphia is 6.5 games out of first place in the NL East. They are a half-game out of the wild-card race. The Phillies are 11th out of 15 NL teams in terms of starters’ ERA.

Adding Greinke to an uninspiring rotation could be what Philadelphia needs to become a legitimate World Series contender. Receiving prospects in exchange for their ace could speed up what’s already been a surprisingly fast retooling process for Arizona.