Programming note: Watch Jeff Samardzija's introductory press conference today at 12:30pm on CSN Bay Area, and streaming live right here.
SAN FRANCISCO — It was assumed all along that Zack Greinke was choosing between the Dodgers and Giants, and the new Diamondbacks ace confirmed that while being introduced to the media Friday morning in Phoenix.
Greinke said he was “minutes away from going to a different team” than the Diamondbacks, presumably the Dodgers.
“Everyone, I guess not everyone, but a lot of teams were a possibility,” he said. “At one point we were just talking to two teams, so when it’s only two teams you’re talking to you don’t really think about other things. As soon as (agent Casey Close) told me that the Diamondbacks called, it got me excited and it just went from there.”
Greinke got a record six-year, $206.5 million contract from the Diamondbacks, who swooped in on the final day of negotiations to steal him away from the Dodgers and Giants. Asked what stood out about the Diamondbacks, he said they first caught his eye around the All-Star break, noting their outstanding lineup, good young arms (he said the staff has “like, seven guys with All-Star potential”), and propensity for taking extra bases (his former team, the Dodgers, rarely did). Greinke also said he's looking forward to living in Phoenix.
“I think the sunsets here are fantastic," he said.
