When the week start, every report indicated Zack Greinke's decision would come down to the Los Angeles Dodgers or the San Francisco Giants. It was going to be a free agency battle between the two biggst rivals in the National League West, then on Friday evening it was another N.L. West team who surprised everyone and signed Greinke.
The Arizona Diamondbacks signed Greinke less than two hours after Ken Rosenthal first reported that they were in pursuit of him. Just like we see at least once every offseason, a star of the free agent crop is rumored to a few heavy favorites, then a surprise team comes out of nowhere and scoops him up.
Arizona was understood to be in the market for starting pitching, having made a run at Johnny Cueto and its reported interest in Japanese free agent Kenta Maeda, but this was completely unexpected.
It's a great payday for Greinke, as the 32-year-old cashes in with a contract that will pay him as a 38-year-old pitcher. The reigning Cy Young award winner, finished last season with a phenomenal 1.66 ERA, 0.84 WHIP and 200 strikeouts over 222 2/3 innings pitched. The marks were by far the best of his career, blowing his 2.71 ERA and 1.15 WHIP lien from 2014 out of the water.
While there certainly will be some regression from Greinke moving to a more hitter friendly park, he remains one of the best pitchers in baseball and many across baseball believe his stuff will remain strong as he gets older.
Greinke provides a dramatic boost for this team and with Arizona's eyes set on adding another starter, the Diamondbacks could be serious contenders for the N.L. West in 2016. That may sound crazy given they finished 79-83 last year and big free agency frenzies, rarely work out, but a closer look into this team shows why they can compete.
From a lineup and runs perspective, you won't find many better than what the Diamondbacks will send out in 2016. They finished second in the National League with 720 runs last season, thanks to a breakout season from center fielder A.J. Pollock and left fielder David Peralta.
The combination of Paul Goldschmidt, Pollock, Peralta and Yasmany Tomas should provide some solid run support for this pitching staff. Pitchers love run support and there is little doubt that the Diamondbacks should provide that, but there's even more reason to be excited.
Pitchers also love to have a defense they love behind him and that's another thing Greinke will find in Arizona. Goldschmidt led all first basemen with 18 defensive runs saved, Pollock led N.L. center fielders with 14 runs saved. Meanwhile, shortstop Nick Ahmed finished second in the N.L. among shortstops with 20 defensive runs saved.
Arizona also has Tuffy Gosewisch who impressed defensively and in his work with the young pitchers, but suffered a torn ACL in June and missed the rest of the season. Upon his return in 2016, thought he may miss an early portion of the season, he could work perfectly as an alternative catcher to Welington Castillo, who brings power and nothing else.
Everything was pretty much in place but the Diamondbacks needed an ace and Greinke brings exactly that. He will immediately slide atop the Diamondbacks rotation, making Patrick Corbin the No.2 starter. Corbin was strong in his return from Tommy John surgery last year, registering a 3.60 ERA across 16 starts. Before tearing his UCL in 2014, Corbin was sharp in 2013, just his second season in the majors.
Rubby De La Rosa, a 26-year-old righty, finished the season with a 4.67 ERA over 32 starts. De La Rosa had a roller coaster season, alternating starts of seven shutout innings with six-run performances. De La Rosa was in his first season with the Diamondbacks and his first full season in the majors, so hopefully a new pitching coach and more tutoring can help him improve on his 3.01 BB/9 from last season.
If Arizona can add Mike Leake, whom Ken Rosenthal reported met with Arizona's GM Dave Stewart and Chief Baseball Officer Tony La Russa on Dec. 3. If they can sign Leake, keeping him away from the Giants, it will provide Arizona with a strong rotation of Greinke, Corbin, Leake, De La Rosa and Robbie Ray, with prospects Archie Bradley and Aaron Blair waiting in the wings.