Comments on: Brewers “preparing to move” Zack Greinke if they can’t sign him to extension

By: herbhatleejr

herbhatleejr — Wed, 27 Jun 2012 04:30:20 +0000

What makes you think the Braves “choked” on Youkilis. He is an aging injury prone player that would be added to the Braves roster as nothing more than a backup for Chipper on his off days, or Freddie Freeman. Even though Boston was willing to include 5.5 million to the team that landed him, he would still be nothing more expensive version of Eric Henskie.

The Braves have again started to put Martin Prado at 3B at a more frequent clip, when Chipper is out, instead of the free swinging Juan Fransico.

Frank Wren and the Braves organization know how valuable their farm system is, and are in a great position to turn those talents into future Braves starters or if the deal is right, use them in acquiring current MLB talent, such as Greinke. Last year, the Braves were in on Hunter Pence and/or Michael Bourn, and no matter how hard they pushed, he refused to give up Brandon Beachy/Minor/Delgado/or Tehran. Albeit, Minor is experiencing more struggles than successes, the Braves management has shown that they are patient and deliberate.

The Braves deciding not to pursue the Youkilis trade is not a choke, rather a smart business move that should pay off with more wins not only in the short term, but over the course of a few years.

By: buffalomafia

buffalomafia — Wed, 27 Jun 2012 01:48:48 +0000

The Braves choked on Youkilis! What makes you think they will get Greinke?

New York bound!

By: APBA Guy

APBA Guy — Tue, 26 Jun 2012 23:20:24 +0000

I’m sure Zach, being from Orlando, would love to pitch in Atlanta, or maybe Tampa. But neither of those teams can take the free agent plunge he’ll require. Maybe Miami would work for him, but something tells me we’ll be surprised where he ends up. My guess (only a guess) is White Sox.

By: hodaghunter

hodaghunter — Tue, 26 Jun 2012 23:14:37 +0000

Know your facts, the brewers organization allowed Lawrie the freedom to make his own decisions in regards to his career. Allowing him to change from Catcher to 2nd baseman to 3rd baseman in the minors because Lawrie wanted to be fast tracked to the majors. In addition Lawire was a constant attitude problem, the issue was so bad that ESPN did a special that focused mainly on him when discussing minor league players with ego issues in a no-collar working environment. I would never want Lawrie in my organization again. Brewers bent over backwards for this kid and he still was crying

By: willsolo

willsolo — Tue, 26 Jun 2012 23:05:42 +0000

I know this will never happen with their current horrendous contracts, but imagine Greinke as a SF Giant? Think about it, it’s a large city where the media isn’t as insane as NY, Boston or Philly. I mean they still love Tim Lincecum with all the struggles he’s gone through this year. Like I said, it’s never going to happen, but imagine a rotation of Cain, Bumgarner, Greinke as the Top 3? It’s insane.

By: ufullpj

ufullpj — Tue, 26 Jun 2012 22:33:26 +0000

I do think there’s a better chance of Grienke staying in Milwaukee than there was of Fielder, but maybe not a great chance. To me, the team no one is talking about yet – and maybe Rosenthal mentions tham – is Baltimore. I can see Angelos ponying up the cash for Grienke, and the prospects needed to get him from MKE.

For the Brewers to trade him, they need a contender with a stocked and loaded MLB-ready minor league system – and that really narrows down the field.

By: brewcitybummer

brewcitybummer — Tue, 26 Jun 2012 21:29:09 +0000

That way you’re not seeing is if some team blows the market away to the tune of 7 years and 22+ million a year. That’s the high end of what he might get in free agency, of course but frankly the high end seems like the most likely outcome when it comes to elite free agents these days.

And the idea of an elite would be free agent signing an extension 3 months from free agency seems blindly optimistic to me.

By: nightman13

nightman13 — Tue, 26 Jun 2012 20:53:27 +0000

The Brewers were going all in on a World Series run last season and came up short. Just because they gave up a ton doesn’t necesarily mean they will be able to resign him for a price that allows them to compete.

I hope they do find a middle ground though, he’s a great fit on the Brewers.

By: nightman13

nightman13 — Tue, 26 Jun 2012 20:50:32 +0000

@trackman12

What makes you say that?

By: southpaw2k

southpaw2k — Tue, 26 Jun 2012 20:28:08 +0000

I heard the same thing that deathmonkey had said, that Greinke would never want to play in a big market like NY because of his social anxiety. In a way, that’s kind of ironic given how much coverage he gets from the national media in small markets like KC and Milwaukee. Still, I imagine even if he hits free agency, he wouldn’t want to play in LA, Chicago, Boston, Philly, or New York.

Of course, that presents another irony in that smaller markets – like say, Baltimore – wouldn’t necessarily be able to afford him anyway.

By: trackman12

trackman12 — Tue, 26 Jun 2012 20:17:54 +0000

I’m sure 90% of MLB players don’t want to play in Milwaukee. Too bad, they are getting paid to do a job and when their contracts are up they’re free to leave.

By: dlindstedt2

dlindstedt2 — Tue, 26 Jun 2012 20:08:58 +0000

That will never happen for one reason, and one reason alone.

Lawrie doesn’t want to play here, he never did.

He had a huge problem with the Milwaukee Brass. In his words, they tried to change who he was. Which was never the case, he just never really had an interest in playing here. So that trade would never work.

By: nategearhart

nategearhart — Tue, 26 Jun 2012 20:03:45 +0000

No worries, I know that would usually be the case. Also, I think the media is quite petty most everywhere, none more so than Boston .

By: gpatrick15

gpatrick15 — Tue, 26 Jun 2012 20:02:19 +0000

Your move, Atlanta

By: illegalblues

illegalblues — Tue, 26 Jun 2012 19:53:42 +0000

c’mon braves

By: brewcrewfan54

brewcrewfan54 — Tue, 26 Jun 2012 19:52:49 +0000

Nothing about what Rosenthal reported should be news to anyone.

By: uyf1950

uyf1950 — Tue, 26 Jun 2012 19:45:33 +0000

nategearhart, my apologies then for misunderstanding your comment. I did take it as a knock against both the city and the team.

By: muskyhunter2542

muskyhunter2542 — Tue, 26 Jun 2012 19:40:55 +0000

With what The Brewers gave up for him, I cannot see any he isnt a Brewer for years to come.

By: nategearhart

nategearhart — Tue, 26 Jun 2012 19:32:45 +0000

uyf1950, yes that is correct. The Kansas City Royals have been a pretty bad baseball team for some time now, and Zack didn’t think that the team would be competitive in the time frame that his next contract would last. As it was not economically or competitively viable at the time for the Royals to spend Greinke’s worth on one pitcher, it behooved both parties for them to part ways.

BTW, my comment was not a derision of the New York Yankees, or the city of New York, but rather of the most vocal parts of the media that covers New York sports. I try to avoid subjectivity and fanboyishness (New word? New word.)

By: bougin89

bougin89 — Tue, 26 Jun 2012 19:27:58 +0000

I don’t see anyway we lock him up with an extension unless Mark A REALLY opens up his pockets…we just have too many holes to fill. I hate to see him go because he’s been great for us but we need to get a few stud prospects for him if we can.

By: trackman12

trackman12 — Tue, 26 Jun 2012 19:27:02 +0000

Greinke to Toronto would be fine with me as long as we get Lawrie back! Lol

By: silversun60

silversun60 — Tue, 26 Jun 2012 19:18:56 +0000

Please make your way to Toronto. You can be our 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th starter at the moment.

By: deathmonkey41

deathmonkey41 — Tue, 26 Jun 2012 19:18:38 +0000

He apparently suffers from some substantial social anxiety. Being under the scruinity New York players are under, he might make AJ Burnett look sane.

By: jebjja

jebjja — Tue, 26 Jun 2012 19:10:56 +0000

Wooooo….Wooo….Woooo…..YOU KNOW IT!

By: uyf1950

uyf1950 — Tue, 26 Jun 2012 19:01:51 +0000

Only knowing what I’ve read about him he apparently got tired of playing for a loser and wanted and got out of Kansas City.

By: brewcitybummer

brewcitybummer — Tue, 26 Jun 2012 19:01:23 +0000

Considering that trading Greinke costs the Brewers the 1st round pick they would receive if they let him walk but now with the new CBA the team trading for Greinke doesn’t pick up those rights, I have this feeling the Brewers have lots of talks and we hear a million rumors but hes still a Brewer on August 1st.

Maybe I’m completely misjudging how much a team is willing to pay for a Greinke rental though.

By: Andee

Andee — Tue, 26 Jun 2012 18:58:51 +0000

It makes me very happy to see Greinke on the cusp of a huge payday. His anxiety/depression issues almost derailed his start in KC, and I’m thrilled he’s worked through that to become a top-flight guy once again. He was one of the first to sort of embrace the idea that life as a rich baseball player can still be affected by mental disorders, and that there is help for you if you need it. That said, I’d also say maybe it’s better he continue pitching in the smaller markets.

By: nategearhart

nategearhart — Tue, 26 Jun 2012 18:53:39 +0000

Knowing what I know of him (not much at all of course, I’m just a Royals fan), I don’t see him wanting to go anywhere that has a reputation for a$$hole media.

By: deathmonkey41

deathmonkey41 — Tue, 26 Jun 2012 18:47:40 +0000

I think he’s got a ton of talent, but I still don’t want to see him on the Yankees.