Report: D-backs target Mike Leake after Zack Greinke deal
Dec 4, 2015, 7:16 PM
The Arizona Diamondbacks agreed to sign free agent ace Zack Greinke to a six-year, $206 million contract on Friday but that might not be the end of their spending.
According to FOX Sports’ Ken Rosenthal, general manager Dave Stewart and chief baseball officer Tony La Russa will continue courting fellow right-handed pitcher Mike Leake.
Sources: #DBacks’ Stewart, La Russa met yesterday with free-agent RHP Mike Leake. Still interested even after reaching deal with Greinke.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) December 5, 2015
Leake, an Arizona State product, spent the first five-plus seasons with the Cincinnati Reds before being dealt to the San Francisco Giants last season. The 28-year-old finished 2015 with a 3.70 ERA, 1.16 WHIP and a 11-10 record with the two clubs.
The report further indicates the Diamondbacks’ front office is quite serious about teaming a much-improved pitching staff from a year ago with a promising offense led by Paul Goldschmidt and A.J. Pollock.
Remaining starters on the D-backs’ pitching staff are Patrick Corbin, Rubby De La Rosa, Robbie Ray and Chase Anderson.
That fails to mention a group of promising prospects in Archie Bradley, Braden Shipley and Aaron Blair, but it appears Arizona is committed to adding experienced pitchers to its staff in order to win sooner rather than later.
