The Los Angeles Dodgers moved quickly after learning Zack Greinke agreed to a six-year, $206.5 million contract with the Arizona Diamondbacks on Friday night.
Greinke’s deal with Arizona became official on Tuesday.
By Sunday, the Dodgers struck an agreement with Hisashi Iwakuma on a three-year contract. The free-agent right-hander spent the past four seasons with the Seattle Mariners.
Prior to joining Seattle in 2012, Iwakuma pitched 11 seasons in the Japan Pacific League.
According to Jon Heyman of CBS Sports, Iwakuma’s contract with the Dodgers is worth $45 million:
Iwakuma agreement is $45M, 3 yrs with dodgers
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeymanCBS) December 7, 2015
Mariners general manager Jerry Dipoto said a third year from the Dodgers was the difference-maker, via Ryan Divish of the Seattle Times:
Dipoto said the third year was the difference for Iwakuma to the Dodgers. Mariners weren't willing to go three years.
— Ryan Divish (@RyanDivish) December 7, 2015
Iwakuma was 9-5 with a 3.54 ERA, 107 ERA+, 3.74 FIP and 1.06 WHIP in 20 starts last season. He spent six weeks on the disabled list due to a strained lat muscle suffered April 25.
Signing Iwakuma, who will be with the Dodgers through his age-37 season, requires the Dodgers to forfeit their first-round pick in the 2016 draft.
That loss is offset in some regard with the Dodgers netting a compensatory pick for Greinke signing with Arizona. Moreover, the Dodgers will receive another pick once Howie Kendrick signs elsewhere.
Iwakuma was 47-25 with a 3.17 ERA, 117 ERA+, 3.62 FIP and 1.06 WHIP in his career with the Mariners. He finished third in American League Cy Young Award voting in 2013, which was the same season he also was named to the AL All-Star team.
