The Greinke Who Stole Christmas

(Who needs Zack Greinke anyway? Wait, the Nationals do. Photo via Picapp.)

Zack Greinke Killed Trade to Nats?

According to SI.com's Jon Heyman, yes:

So a deal was close -- presumably including some combination of Drew Storen, Danny Espinosa, and Jordan Zimmermann -- but would trading for Greinke for some of the best parts in the system have made sense for the Nationals? Adam Kilgore says: no.

We'll go with: Yes.

Let's borrow a line from FoxSports.com's Ken Rosenthal - talking about the Brewers' move:

"Enough already with the talk of prospects, and the overvaluing of youngsters who might never make an impact in the major leagues."
(Ken Rosenthal, via foxsports.com, 12/19/2010)

You have a chance to deal Storen, Espinosa, and Zimmermann for an #1 starter? Done.

But since Greinke apparently wanted a chance to play for a contender (or, at least a team resembling a contender), the discussion is moot.

But what does this say about the Nationals, anyway? Guess all that Phase 2 talk and the symbolism of the Werth deal hasn't quite sunk in yet around baseball, huh? 

[Update] But here's something else to consider, via MASN's Phil Wood (why, oh why, does everything always have to come back to the #*%#ing Phillies with this team!?):

(Greinke had) previously shown a willingness to come to D.C. - until Cliff Lee signed with the Phillies.

According to sources close to Greinke, the Nationals, following the acquisition of Jayson Werth, looked like a solid spot, but that Lee joining the Phils' rotation changed everything. The road to a NL East postseason berth narrowed considerably in Greinke's mind, but the NL Central? That's a winnable division, possibly as soon as this season. (via Phil Wood, MASNSports.com, 12/19/2010)

Oh well, Carl Pavano is still available. Odalis Perez, too.

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Comments

[Todd Boss]

I would have said No to this deal as well. I posted my full thoughts at http://www.nationalsarmrace.com/?p=501 but the gist of it is that Greinke has had ONE good season. He's not Felix Hernandez, a guy who has shown season after season that he can dominate. You don't mortgage your future to get a guy who might not be the real deal.

[The Nationals Enquirer]

Don't agree that dealing away Storen, Espinosa, Zimmermann constitutes mortgaging the future...also disagree with your argument that Greinke has had only one good season.

Can't wait to find out who the actual pieces were being offered up in the deal that got killed by Greinke.

Nice post over at your place. Got you linked up from our blogroll now, over on the right.

[Anonymous]

I refuse to buy the "wait until next year to improve the major league product" and "don't mortgage the future" arguments,. A trade for a player like Greinke would have improved the Nationals in 2011 and 2012 at the very least. As Strasburg's injury should have taught us by now, it's foolish to try and predict the future. Make moves that improve you in the longer-than-short term.

[Michael L.G.]

I am with Todd Boss 100% on this one as you have to deal in the here and now.