Royals put two-pitcher pricetag on Greinke — 5:17 p.m.
The Royals will listen if teams want to trade for right-hander Zack Greinke, just as they would on any player, major-league sources say.
But when clubs inquire about Greinke, the Royals respond by saying they would want two major-league-ready pitchers with top-of-the rotation potential in return.
Their logic is that Greinke gives them a chance to win 35 times a year. To move him, they would want to multiply that number to, say, 70 times a year.
Greinke, 26, is under club control for this season and two more, just as Mariners right-hander Felix Hernandez was at last year’s non-waiver deadline.
The Red Sox, Yankees and other clubs attempted to trade for Hernandez, figuring the Mariners might balk at signing him to an extension.
The Mariners kept Hernandez, then extended him with a five-year, $78 million contract in January.
More Royals: Part of their motivation for trading third baseman Alberto Callaspo was to give them a better chance to keep outfielder David DeJesus next season.
As it turned out, they could not have traded DeJesus, who suffered a season-ending thumb injury on Thursday just hours after the completion of the Callaspo trade.
But the Royals, when projecting their 2011 payroll, determined that they could not carry both Callaspo, who figures to earn $2.5 million in arbitration, and DeJesus, who can be retained on a $6 million club option.
Several clubs, including the Red Sox and Giants, had expressed interest in DeJesus. But if he had stayed healthy, the chances of the Royals moving him would have reduced to “50-50” with the trade of Callaspo, according to a source with knowledge of the team’s thinking.
While righty Sean O’Sullivan beat the Yankees earlier this week, Class A left-hander Will Smith was the bigger prize from the Angels in the Callaspo deal.
O’Sullivan, 22, projects as back-of-the-rotation starter who probably would be a swingman on a championship club. Smith, 21, projects as a No. 4 starter, and some with the Royals believe he could be a No. 3.
The Royals are attracting varying interest on their potential free agents – reliever Kyle Farnsworth, infielder Willie Bloomquist, designated hitter Jose Guillen and outfielders Scott Podsednik and Rick Ankiel.
Bloomquist should be attractive to teams in need of bench help; he plays every position but catcher and stole 25 bases last season. Teams are “kicking the tires” on Guillen, according to a source; if he moves, it likely will be close to the deadline. — Ken Rosenthal
So what I would like to say is... THE ROYALS are open to TRADING GREINKE...
2 pitchers??????
Micah Owings & Maloney & Alonso & Heisey & Whoever else it takes...
I would also like the Reds to grab 3B/OF Alex Gordon in the deal if possible...
Throw in anyone not named:
Leake
Bruce
Cueto
Votto
But so the point of this is, the Royals are making Greinke available. This kind of pitcher doesn't come along very often. If Walt was almost aquiring LHP Cliff Lee, I would hope he is on the phone with Dayton Moore every single Day...