Credit: Harry How / Getty Images North America
Shockingly, Zack Greinke will not be wearing Los Angeles Dodgers blue and white in 2016 and beyond. The 32-year-old right-hander, coming off the best season of his career, and one of the best seasons by a starting pitcher in 20 years, put the baseball world on its ear by agreeing yesterday to sign with the Arizona Diamondbacks. Most thought the Dodgers were the only team capable of doling out over $200 million to sign the ace, but the Snakes surprised.
Instead of blue and white, Greinke will be wearing purple and teal for six years.
Where do the Dodgers go from here? Without Greinke, there is a great deal of uncertainty in the Los Angeles rotation. Behind Clayton Kershaw, the Dodgers have the oft-injured Brett Anderson, Alex Wood, possibly Hyun-jin Ryu, coming off shoulder surgery, Mike Bolsinger, and Brandon McCarthy (if he recovers from Tommy John surgery). Not much to be excited about behind the best pitcher in the league.
The Dodgers should have felt desperate to re-sign Greinke after failing to sign David Price or Jordan Zimmermann. The Diamondbacks must have felt more desperate to add an ace to support their great offense. Without Greinke, the Dodgers will need to add at least one more starting pitcher, and there are still plenty of options available on the free-agent market.
Here are five (and one bonus!) starting pitchers still left unsigned who could help the Dodgers ease the loss of Greinke.
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