Zack Greinke opted of his deal (6 YRs/$147.6 MIL) after this last season with the Dodgers, even though he will still nearly $26 MIL per year left on his deal running through 2018. The 32 Year Old has been dynamite since moving to Los Angeles, featuring a 60 – 17 (.779) record with a mid 2 ERA since he was dealt to the Angels in mid 2012 from the Brewers.  He just inked the most lucrative deal ever signed for the MLB in AAV at $34.42 MIL per year.

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A collective haymaker punch has just been thrown at the rest of the National League West.  The Diamondbacks have inked Zack Greinke to a 6 YRs/$206.5 MIL pact as of last night.

This is the 3rd richest Pitcher contract ever signed behind David Price‘s 7 YRs/$217 MIL deal – and Clayton Kerhsaw’s extension of 7 YRs/$210 MIL.

It is also the highest Average Annual contract  ahead at $34.42 MIL per season, edging out both Price and Miguel Cabrera at a clip of $31 MIL each a campaign for their respective deals.

Greinke, 32, who finished 2nd in NL Cy Young Voting with an incredible 1.66 ERA in 222.1 IP worth of work in 2015 had opted out of his 6 YRs/$147.5 MIL deal with the Dodgers after just 3 years.

The Right Handed Pitcher left 3 years and $77.5 MIL on the table – and this was the right move as he was slated to earn just under $26 MIL a season for that contract.

This is the 12th richest deal of ALL – Time in the Major Leagues – and is also the 12th player to crack the $200 MIL+ barrier.

Greinke, who also appears on 28th of this list, has a career record of 142 – 93 (.604) with a 3.35 ERA stretched out over 12 years of his 4 different teams (LAD, LAA, MIL and KC), however he posted a 51 – 15 mark with the Dodgers – toting a 2.30 ERA over his 3 year tenure with them.  The RHP has also battled an anxiety disorder in his past – which is a perfectly situated to be in the West Coast where the media is much more laid back.

Arizona, who only has about $34 MIL in collective signed contracts before the move – will double that immediately, but also has a great TV Deal to pay for this money doled out now.

The Diamondbacks also have an MVP candidate every year in Paul Goldschmidt, only making $40 MIL in earnings for the next 4 years – due to a greatly timed extension by the management.  Now they also have a perennial Cy Young candidate as well.

Not only does the signing bode well for the franchise, but it also takes Greinke out of the running for the Dodgers and Giants – who were thought to be the front-runners for the man.  This decidedly weakens both clubs and strengthens Arizona.

As soon as I heard the news, I threw down a $50 bet on the D’Backs (with some friends) – with the Snakes at 40/1 Odd at bet365.com – it was the biggest no brainer I have seen this offseason.

Arizona has played around .500 with Goldschmidt in the lineup for the last several years.  It was only when he went down to injury in 2014 – that the club struggled in the win column.

The team has a bevy of young talent in A.J. Pollock, David Peralta, Ender Inciarte,Patrick Corbin and Yasmany Tomas all under team control for several years to compliment both Greinke and Goldschmidt.

The highest contracts in MLB history (Red means Active Contract)

 1. Giancarlo Stanton, $325, 000, 000 (2015 – 2027)

*2. Alex Rodriguez, $275,000,000 (2008-17)

*** With A-Rod’s suspension in 2014, he forfeited $22.13 MIL bucks, so it will end up 10 YRs/$252.87 MIL for the duration of his deal.

3. Alex Rodriguez, $252,000,000 (2001-10) (Opted out after 2007 season).

*4. Miguel Cabrera $248,000, 000 (2016 – 2023)

Go see #22.  He has the 3rd and 22nd top contracts of ALL – Time.

*5. Albert Pujols, $250,000,000 (2012-21)

*6. Robinson Cano, $240,000,000 (2014 – 2023)

*7. Joey Votto, $225,000,000 (2014-23)

*8.  David Price, $217,000,000 (2016 – 2022)

*9.  Clayton Kershaw $215,000,000 (2014 – 2020)

*10. Prince Fielder, $214,000,000 (2012-20)

*11.  Max Scherzer, $210,000,000 (2015 – 2021)

*28. Zack Greinke, $206,500,000 (2016 – 2022)

13. Derek Jeter, $189,000,000 (2001-10)

*14. Joe Mauer, $184,000,000 (2011-18)

*T15. Mark Teixeira, $180,000,000 (2009-16)

*T15. Justin Verlander, $180,000,000 (2013-19)

*17. Felix Hernandez, $175,000,000 (2013-19)

*18. Buster Posey, $167,000,000 (2013-21)

*19. CC Sabathia, $161,000,000 (2009-15)

T-20. Manny Ramirez, $160,000,000 (2001-08)

*T-20. Matt Kemp, $160,000,000 (2012-19)

*22. Troy Tulowitzki, $157,750,000 (2011-20)

*23.  Masahiro Tanaka, $155,000,000 (2014 – 20) (Doesn’t include his $20 MIL posting fee)

*24.  Jon Lester, $155,000,000 (2015 – 2021)

*25. Adrian Gonzalez, $154,000,000 (2012-18)

*26. Jacoby Ellsbury , $153,000,000 (2014-2020)

*27. Miguel Cabrera, $152,300,000 (2008-15)

*28. Zack Greinke, $147,000,000 (2013-18) (Opted out after 2015)

*29.  Mike Trout, $144, 500, 000 (2015 – 2020)

*30. Cole Hamels, $144,000,000 (2013-18) 

*31. Carl Crawford, $142,000,000 (2011-17)

32. Todd Helton, $141,500,000 (2003-11)

*33. David Wright, $138,000,000 (2013-20)

34. Johan Santana, $137,500,000 (2008-13)

*35. Alfonso Soriano, $136,000,000 (2007-14)

*36.  Freddie Freeman, $135,000,000 (2014-21)

*37.  Shin-Soo Choo, $130,000,000 (2014-20)

*38. Matt Cain, $127,500,000 (2012-17)

T39. Vernon Wells, $126,000,000 (2008-14)

T-40. Barry Zito, $126,000,000 (2007-13)

*41 Jayson Werth, $126,000,000 (2011-17)

*T-42. Ryan Howard, $125,000,000 (2012-16)

*T-42: Josh Hamilton, $125,000,000 (2013-17)

*44. CC Sabathia, $122,000,000 (2012-16) (Opted out after 2011 year)

45. Mike Hampton, $121,000,000 (2001-08)

T-46. Jason Giambi, $120,000,000 (2002-08)

*T-46. Matt Holliday, $120,000,000 (2010-16)

*T-46: Elvis Andrus, $120,000,000(2015-22)

 T-46:  Cliff Lee, $120,000,000 (2011-15)

50.. Carlos Beltran, $119,000,000 (2005-11)

Just Outside the BAR

51 .Ken Griffey Jr., $116,500,000 (2000-08)

*T51. Jordan Zimmermann, $110,000,000 (2016 – 2020)

*T51.  Dustin Pedroia, $110,0000, 000 (2014 – 2021)

Sully Baseball Podcast on Greinke Signing (Worth Listening too)

Did you predict Zack Greinke leaving LA for the Diamondbacks? If you answered yes, you are a liar!

The NL West is upside down and Johnny Cueto’s agent is loving it.

Snakes in the desert in this episode of The Sully Baseball Daily Podcast.

*** The views and opinions expressed in this report are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of mlbreports.com and their partners***

I am happy to be back at the helm of the MLB Reports, after completing my record 224 Games in the MLB Trip in 2015.  It was the 4th time I have seen all 30 MLB Parks since 2008. 

During that time away I was fortunate to do 100 Media Interviews and be named the Baseball Blogger Alliance President.

Interview on CSN Philly during the month of July.

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