Jeff Hanisch-US PRESSWIRE
There have been plenty of trade speculations surrounding Zack Greinke and the Milwaukee Brewers the past few weeks. This of course would never have come to light if the Brewers were doing better in the standings but unfortunately, that is not the case. Regardless, I believe Milwaukee will stick with Greinke and not trade him before the July 31 deadline.
It is true there are several teams such as the Baltimore Orioles, Texas Rangers, and Washington Nationals looking to acquire Greinke to help propel them into the postseason. It is also true the Brewers will be fielding quality offers over the next few weeks, which will entice them to part ways with the right-hander. Considering Greinke is the biggest trading chip this season Milwaukee could certainly get a lot in return for him.
The Brewers are currently eight games out of first place in the NL Central division. Even with two wild card spots this year, most general managers would trade Greinke in a heartbeat to stack up on prospects. However, owner Mark Attanasio does not want to give up the former Cy Young Award winner nor does he want to wave the white flag quite yet. Two wild card spots means no team is out of it, especially after witnessing what the St. Louis Cardinals were able to do last season.
Not only will the Brewers not trade Grienke but they also may even be buyers before the trade deadline. First and foremost, general manager Doug Melvin is going to offer Greinke a long-term contract. Considering they were unable to sign slugger Prince Fielder, the Brewers have money to dish out for another player to be the face of the franchise along with MVP Ryan Braun.
If Greinke turns down the offer due to him wanting to test free agency at the end of the season then Milwaukee will have no choice but to trade him. Management owes it to the fans to get something in return for a player who will no longer be with the team come next year.
I personally believe Greinke will not turn down the offer despite how much money he may leave on the table. He is a person who wants to get the paycheck, but more importantly, he wants to play some place where he is comfortable due to his social anxiety disorder. He has already expressed how much he enjoys playing in Milwaukee and because the Brewers play in a small market, he does not have to deal with overhyped media every game.
The reason Greinke wanted out of Kansas City is because he wants to play for a winner. He got his wish last season, as the Brewers were two games away from a World Series berth. The high hopes for this season have diminished due to season-ending injuries and several players not meeting expectations. With that in mind, Greinke wants to play for a contender more than he cares about being comfortable. This means if the Brewers are trying to sign him long-term then they must convince him they are willing to not only give up on this season but also be competitive over the next few years.
Attanasio is tired of rebuilding teams. He wants to win and he wants to do it now. That means giving up prospects or current major leaguers to acquire players to contend could be in the cards. Milwaukee will do whatever it takes to keep Greinke on board while also bringing in players to help get back in the race.
Buy Milwaukee Brewers Tickets | Buy Milwaukee Brewers Apparel
No comments:
Post a Comment