Zack Greinke plans to pitch in 2024, per report
The 40-year-old is 21 strikeouts away from 3,000 in his career.
Veteran pitcher Zack Greinke intends to pitch in 2024, according to reporter Jon Morosi.
Zack Greinke's representatives have communicated to @MLB teams that he's preparing to pitch in 2024 and is open to contract talks.
— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) December 12, 2023
Greinke, 40, went 2-15 with a 5.06 ERA this year over 142 1/3 innings. @MLBNetwork
The 40-year-old Greinke has spent 20 years in the big leagues, including the last two with the Royals. He is 21 strikeouts away from reaching 3,000 in his career. He had a 5.06 ERA in 142 1⁄3 innings last season with the fourth-lowest walk rate among pitchers with at least 100 innings pitched. His numbers took a slide in July and August as he missed some time with elbow soreness, but he finished strong, allowing just three runs in 15 2⁄3 innings over his last four outings, including a win in his last start of the season against the Yankees.
Royals general manager J.J. Picollo has said he is open to bringing Greinke back, but it may depend on the free agent market. The Royals are said to be aggressively pursuing starting pitchers to upgrade their rotation through both free agency and potential trades. Picollo has said his current rotation includes Cole Ragans, Brady Singer, and Jordan Lyles, with two spots yet to be filled.
J.J. Picollo says the #Royals are open to a reunion with Zack Greinke — assuming he wants to pitch in 2024 — but it will depend on how the free agent market shakes out: "It's not that we've forgotten about him. There's just a lot of different options out there at this point." pic.twitter.com/uxIJADiLkq
— Bally Sports Kansas City (@BallySportsKC) December 8, 2023
Greinke made $8.5 million on a one-year deal this year, and would likely seek something close to that this off-season.