The Los Angeles Dodgers failing to re-signing Zack Greinke is unfortunate.
Over the past three seasons Greinke established himself as one of the greatest pitchers in the history of one of the league’s most storied franchises.
Over 94 starts, he allowed just 154 earned runs and posted a WHIP of just over one, to go with a 51-15.
Despite all of this, however, the Dodgers front office decided that paying Greinke $34.42 million per year through his age-37 season was a bit too rich for them.
And, well, if you asked Dodgers’ Twitter, the response from fans haven’t been favorable. Quite honestly, I can see why.
The Dodgers have the league’s largest payroll, they have an $8.35 billion television rights deal, they haven’t won a championship in 27 years and the desire to win has never been higher.
If there has ever been a “right time” to pay one of the league’s top-five pitchers, wouldn’t it be now? It’s a fair question, really, but it’s not the question I’m setting out to answer here.
Greinke is bound for Arizona (his deal is pending a physical) and the Dodgers have to move forward somehow, some way. If you ask me, I don’t think it’s going to be that difficult.
For starters, the Dodgers still have the best pitcher in the world. It’s one thing to lose Greinke if he’s your No. 1 starter, and it’s another to lose Greinke and still have Clayton Kershaw.
Secondly, the Dodgers’ rotation isn’t exactly in shambles. Any group featuring Kershaw is formidable, but the presence of Brett Anderson and Alex Wood are fine pieces.
As are healthy versions of Brandon McCarthy and Hyun-Jin Ryu once they return from their respective injuries.
(Note: we’re only 30 days removed from the Kansas City Royals winning the World Series with Edinson Volquez, Chris Young and Yordano Ventura making up 75-percent of their rotation).
All of this is without mentioning the future — Julio Urias and Jose De Leon, the No. 4 and No. 23 prospects in baseball according to MLB.com. Many expect both young starters to contribute by 2017 at the latest.
Beyond the pitching, let’s remember it’s not like losing Greinke means the Dodgers forfeit the opportunity to spend money altogether.
Say they take their checkbook and sign Johnny Cueto and Ryan Madson — still adding an elite starter (granted not as good as Greinke) and reinforcing the bullpen.
Is the reaction different? Or what if they go after the hottest bat on the market in Jason Heyward — the 26-year-old outfielder who is a sabermetric darling?
This doesn’t include potential complex trades that are surely running through Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman’s mind that would land Shelby Miller or Aroldis Chapman, or whoever the next big name is to be mentioned in trade rumors.
My point is that it’s Dec. 5, 2015, and to those who want to behave as if the season has already ended: deeeeep breaths.
At this point last year the Dodgers still had Dee Gordon and Matt Kemp, meaning they had yet to add Brett Anderson, Yasmani Grandal, Chris Hatcher, Kiké Hernandez and Howie Kendrick, among others.
The offseason is young, and we need to remember the Dodgers organization has shown itself to be one of the most active, innovative and unpredictable groups in professional sports.
Zack Greinke is gone, but the world isn’t over. Breathe deeply Dodger Land, everything is going to be okay.
