Report: D-backs would ‘love to move’ ace Zack Greinke

The Arizona Diamondbacks will take the next month to look whether they want to rebuild or push for the playoffs in 2019, but according to a report, they’re already expected to go down the path that could give well-paid ace Zack Greinke a new home.

USA Today’s Bob Nightengale reported Wednesday that the D-backs are expected to consider a full rebuild this offseason, and one of the best ways to do that would be dealing Greinke, who is owed from $34-35 million in 2019, 2020 and 2021.

Arizona would “love to move” Greinke, Nightengale said, and would even consider dealing first baseman Paul Goldschmidt, who will reach free agency after next season.

Greinke posted a 3.21 ERA, 1.08 WHIP and 15-11 record as a 34-year-old in 2018.

But it’s no secret inside MLB or out that Arizona is at a fork in the road in determining how to approach next season.

Diamondbacks general manager Mike Hazen told Doug & Wolf of 98.7 FM Arizona’s Sports Station last week that the team was using this month to evaluate the next steps. First, it must determine whether it can keep two key free agents, center fielder A.J. Pollock and pitcher Patrick Corbin.

“That team can largely come back minus a few key pieces,” Hazen said of the 2018 squad. “I think we need to assess what’s going to happen to those key pieces, whether we can keep them or not, and if the answer is no, how do we replace them? And if we don’t replace them, where does that leave us? Those are the questions we have to ask ourselves in the next 30 days.”

Regarding Goldschmidt, Hazen said he would rather have the All-Star on his roster, even if Arizona goes into full rebuild mode. But D-backs president and CEO Derrick Hall said last month that the team will listen to all offers, including those that involve Goldschmidt.

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