Reds rumors: Cincinnati Reds show interest in Zack Greinke

The latest Reds rumors have the Cincinnati Reds showing interest in a bonafide ace. Zack Greinke is the latest name to garner the Reds interest.

Oh the Reds rumors are swirling now. First we heard of the team’s interest in Corey Kluber. Then came rumors of the Reds looking into a trade for Noah Syndergaard. Just yesterday Cincinnati was said to be interested in signing Dallas Keuchel. Now, the latest report has the Cincinnati Reds kicking the tires on a possible trade for Zack Greinke.

Jon Morosi of MLB Network is reporting that the Reds have checked with the Arizona Diamondbacks about the possibility of bringing Zack Greinke to the Queen City. Zach Buchanan of The Athletic reports, however, that Greinke can block a deal to the Cincinnati Reds if he so chooses.

It’s no surprise that the Reds are exploring several avenues to improve their starting pitching. The team’s starting rotation was one of the worst in all of baseball last season and it’s been a major point of emphasis to improve in that area this offseason.

There’s no denying that a trade for Greinke would greatly improve Cincinnati’s starting rotation. Greinke has pitched the last three seasons in the desert in which he’s earned three Gold Glove Awards and two straight trips to the All-Star Game.

Greinke has won a Gold Glove on five occasions, been to the All-Star five times, and won the Cy Young Award in 2009 while with the Kansas City Royals. He is still, at 35-years-old, one of the best pitchers in all of baseball.

So, why not make a trade for Greinke? I mean he did just come off a 15-win season with an ERA+ of 135 and 199 strikeouts. His durability cannot be questioned, as he’s started over 25 games each of the last six seasons. However, 35-years-old is a bit long in the tooth for any player, much less a pitcher.

The biggest problem with picking up a player like Greinke is his salary. Greinke signed a 6-year/ $206.5-million contract that runs through the 2021 season. Greinke is owed $31.5 MM this coming season and $32 MM the following two years. Whoa!

The only conceivable way I can envision the Cincinnati Reds making a move like this is if one of two things happen. Either the Dbacks take on part of Greinke’s salary, or the trade includes Homer Bailey (and his $28-million contract) going to Arizona.

It’s hard to see a small market team like the Cincinnati Reds taking on the entirety of Greinke’s salary, and we haven’t even talked about what the Reds would send to the Diamondbacks in return. This is one of the more intriguing Reds rumors we’ve heard, and one that sounds like it would definitely take some creativity to pull off. But, nonetheless, it’s good to see the Reds looking at several different options in order to improve their pitching.