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Zack Greinke: Money had no rival
Zack Greinke, reflecting on his signing with the Los Angeles Dodgers this offseason, didn't mince words recently when addressing the motivating factor for his decision.
Greinke, who signed a $147 million, six-year deal with Dodgers, says one thing held sway first and foremost: money.
"I could play for the worst team if they paid the most," Greinke said in an interview with CBSSports.com. "If the last-place team offers $200 million and the first-place team offers $10, I'm going to go for the $200 million no matter what team it was."
Greinke's deal, completed in December, was the second-most lucrative in history for a pitcher, trailing only the $161 million deal CC Sabathia signed with the New York Yankees in 2009.
During his introductory news conference, Greinke had hinted at the reasons for a change in heart from signing with the Rangers, who he said had at one time been the favorite to gain his services.
"But that changed there at the end," said Greinke, the 2009 Cy Young Award winner with the Royals, before adding that money was "what it gets to at the end."
Greinke, in his interview with CBSSports.com, said he didn't regret holding out despite previous offers by such teams as the Nationals as he bided his time waiting for free agency.
"I wanted to see it," Greinke said. "If it was going to be only one year for $1 million, I wanted to see for myself."
Zack Greinke, reflecting on his signing with the Los Angeles Dodgers this offseason, didn't mince words recently when addressing the motivating factor for his decision.
Greinke, who signed a $147 million, six-year deal with Dodgers, says one thing held sway first and foremost: money.
"I could play for the worst team if they paid the most," Greinke said in an interview with CBSSports.com. "If the last-place team offers $200 million and the first-place team offers $10, I'm going to go for the $200 million no matter what team it was."
Greinke's deal, completed in December, was the second-most lucrative in history for a pitcher, trailing only the $161 million deal CC Sabathia signed with the New York Yankees in 2009.
During his introductory news conference, Greinke had hinted at the reasons for a change in heart from signing with the Rangers, who he said had at one time been the favorite to gain his services.
"But that changed there at the end," said Greinke, the 2009 Cy Young Award winner with the Royals, before adding that money was "what it gets to at the end."
Greinke, in his interview with CBSSports.com, said he didn't regret holding out despite previous offers by such teams as the Nationals as he bided his time waiting for free agency.
"I wanted to see it," Greinke said. "If it was going to be only one year for $1 million, I wanted to see for myself."
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