Kansas City Royals: Recent Notable First Round Picks

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Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Zack Greinke (21) – Mandatory Credit: Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports

Greinke was ready to be traded after the 2010 season because he didn’t want to be apart of a rebuilding team, and shortly after saying this, Greinke got his wish. He was traded to the Milwaukee Brewers along with Yuniesky Betancourt for Jeremy Jeffress, Jake Odorizzi, and some guys named Lorenzo Cain and Alcides Escobar.

Looking at those last two names makes me glad that this trade happened. The Royals wouldn’t be quite the team they are today without Cain and Escobar.

Greinke spent two seasons with the Brewers before being traded to the Los Angeles Angels. He spent one season with the Halos and has been with the Los Angeles Dodgers ever since.

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It’s funny to me that Greinke wanted to play for a winning team yet the Kansas City Royals made it to the World Series before his Dodgers did. Just ironic in a way.

Fans were angry at Zack Greinke for leaving, but can you blame the kid? The Royals were awful then and he wanted to be one of the best pitchers in the league on a team that was relevant. Plus, this trade got Lorenzo Cain and Alcides Escobar to Kansas City, and we all know how much we adore them. So thanks Zack!

Zack Greinke signed a gigantic deal with the Arizona Diamondbacks during the 2016 season. It was worth $206.5 million over six years. It’s safe to say that the Royals never could have afforded that.

Stats as a Royal (7 years)

Wins-Losses: 60-67
ERA: 3.82
Pitched 210 games
Started 169 games
Complete games: 12
Shutouts: 3
Saves: 1
Innings Pitched: 1,108
Strikeouts/Walks: 931/280

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