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Zack Greinke Traded to Brewers

Zack Greinke has been traded to the Milwaukee Brewers, just one year removed from his Cy Young 2009 campaign. In that year, he was 16-8 with a 2.16 ERA, 1.073 WHIP, six complete games, three shutouts, 242 strikeouts, and 53 walks in 229.1 innings pitched. In 2010, he was 10-14 with a 4.17 ERA, 1.245 WHIP, three complete games, no shutouts, 181 strikeouts, and 55 walks in 220.0 innings pitched. It was one of his worst seasons since 2005.

After Cliff Lee signed with the Phillies, the Yankees were left without their prime pitching target. With offensive options already dropping like flies, they were left to target other pitching help, especially with talk of Andy Pettitte’s retirement. Now, the top trade piece on the market is out of New York’s hands.

The Trade:

Effect on the Yankees:

The Yankees’ rotation hasn’t been this weak in some time. C.C. Sabathia is by far a great arm, but things get a little dicey from there. The current rotation shows what might be in store for the Yankees.

• C.C. Sabathia
• Phil Hughes
• A.J. Burnett
• Sergio Mitre
• Ivan Nova

Sabathia is great, and Hughes is still young; the Yankees wanted to limit his innings last season. Burnett was dicey, and the other two have been spot starters, except for Mitre’s 2007 campaign with the Marlins. The Yanks could still move Joba Chamberlain out of the bullpen, but it’s really hit or miss. If Burnett doesn’t get better, the Yankees have only two good starters. They could always try to lure Andy Pettitte away from retirement, but he’s leaning towards that direction. The Yankees host the Brewers on June 28-30, so they might have to face Greinke.

Effect on the Red Sox:

At least Greinke is out of the AL. Boston’s rotation is deeper than New York’s but it is perhaps just as unreliable beyond their top two performers.

• Jon Lester
• Clay Buchholz
• John Lackey
• Josh Beckett
• Daisuke Matsuzaka

Only Lester and Buchholz were good last year. Lackey was *meh.* Beckett and Matsuzaka had terrible seasons. And Casey Kelley was traded to San Diego, but let’s face it, Boston never makes use of their prospects when they can throw money around, unless massive injuries are afoot like 2010. The Red Sox could still conceivably trade for Joe Blanton or move Tim Wakefield out of the pen. Boston hosts Milwaukee on June 17-19, and visits Philadelphia on June 28-30. Halladay, Lee, and Oswalt are the biggest threats by far, and Boston will likely have to face at least two. Compared to them, Greinke is nothing.

With Boston’s new offense and Philadelphia’s new rotation, a Boston/Philadelphia World Series is clearly the favorite, and now it’s just a matter of whether offense or defense will win out.

Tags: Boston Red Sox, Kansas City Royals, Milwaukee Brewers, New York Yankees, Zack Greinke