D-backs pitcher Zack Greinke discusses reporting to Spring Training

The Arizona Diamondbacks staff ace Zack Greinke reported to Spring Training on Friday, two days after pitchers and catchers were scheduled to report.

While he doesn’t mince words about his feelings on Spring Training, the 35-year old right-hander admits that it is a necessary evil, especially for him.

“I actually don’t think it’s too long,” Greinke said.

“I think it’s too boring. I don’t enjoy it, but I need every single day to get ready kind of. I wish I could say I only needed two weeks, but I don’t enjoy it. But I’m one of the few people that thinks it needs to be as long as it is.”

Greinke stated he was dealing with a stiff neck from his flight, which prevented him from working out on Saturday. But when asked about his thoughts on how the perception of showing up late to Spring Training would be viewed by his teammates, he was surprisingly introspective in the moment about the impact it would have.

“No, I didn’t think about it, but maybe I should have,” Greinke said. “That was Torey’s biggest complaint about it was that, so maybe I should have looked at that closer.”

Manager Torey Lovullo backed up his veteran pitcher’s late arrival.

“Once again, with the situation with Zack, he is so polished and so understanding of who he is and what he needs that I never, ever have an issue with his program,” Lovullo said.

“We modify it, I know that you’ve seen that over the past couple years, we do our absolute best to modify it and fit his needs to make sure he’s ready. And he never hasn’t been.”

Greinke said he was feeling great health wise aside from the stiff neck and was positive about the team’s outlook for 2019 despite the losses of personnel during the offseason that didn’t seem to surprise him.

“I think the writing was on the wall kind of when I did sign here that we had like three years with the main guys and then there was going to have to be some adjustments,” Greinke said.

“At that point of time, I’d be pretty happy if this is what the fourth year was looking like at this point of time. So overall, it’s not like it is a shock any of this has happened. People have known for a long time, and I think we’ve done some pretty good moves.”

At one point, the offseason changes did circulate around rumors Greinke would possibly be traded. While he did admit that could be a possibility, he affirmed he enjoys playing for this team and would not have wanted to be a part of any trade.

“I mean I don’t really want to get traded,” Greinke said.

“I think that the no-trade clause shows that I don’t want to get traded. I know that it’s still possible, but that’s not my goal. I don’t think that’s the team’s goal too much, but I mean if it makes sense they got to consider it. But I don’t have any desire to be traded to any team.

“I’ve had a really good time here. Everything about it is pretty good. The organization is really good. The town is good. The players on the team are great. It’s just a good set up here.”

Greinke is scheduled to throw his first bullpen on Sunday.

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