ROYALS AGREE TO BRING BACK GREINKE AGAIN
The Royals and Zach Greinke have agreed to a contract for the coming season, a person familiar with the deal told The Associated Press on Monday, making it nine seasons over two stints in Kansas City for the six-time All-Star pitcher.
The financial terms of the deal were not immediately available. Greinke, 39, was paid $13 million last season by the Royals, where he spent the first seven season be- fore returning last year and going 3-9 with a 3.68 ERA and striking out 73 over 137 innings for the rebuilding club.
Greinke did spend two stints on the injured list but allowed two runs or fewer in 17 of his 26 starts last season.
Perhaps most importantly, Greinke provided veteran leadership to one of baseball’s younger rotations. Brady Singer, at just 26, flourished into the staff ace, while fellow 20-somethings Daniel Lynch and Kris Bubic also made progress.
Greinke, who will turn 40 in October, began his career in Kansas City as a mercurial firstround pick in the 2002 amateur draft. He nearly walked away from the game before making it to the big leagues two years later, beginning a 20-year career that included stints with the Brewers, Angels, Dodgers, Diamondbacks and Astros.
The 2009 Cy Young winner is first among active pitchers with 514 career starts and 3,247 innings pitched. Greinke is second to Justin Verlander with 223 wins, third in strikeouts (2,882) and has six Gold Gloves and two Silver Slugger awards.
Rays have a new plan
A new ballpark for the Tampa Bay Rays will be built near the current one under plans unveiled Monday as part of a massive redevelopment project that also includes affordable housing, office space and retail in what was once a thriving Black neighborhood.
Mayor Ken Welch, of St. Petersburg, Fla., chose a partnership between the Rays and the Houston-based Hines development company from among four proposals to transform an 86-acre (34-hectare) downtown site where Tropicana Field now sits. Welch said the plan should keep the Rays in St. Petersburg for the long term.
“This team is the best partner for this generational endeavor, and now the next phase of work begins to bring this dream to reality for everyone in St. Petersburg,” Welch said in a speech on the steps of City Hall.
The Rays have played at the domed Tropicana Field since their inaugural 1998 season but have considered moving elsewhere, such as neighboring Tampa, amid consistently low attendance. There was also a proposal to split their home games between St. Petersburg and Montreal that was rejected by Major League Baseball.
Rays President Brian Auld, who attended the mayor’s event, said in a brief interview it is “a thrill” to see the project take a major step forward. The plan calls for a new domed stadium to be ready for the 2028 season opener; the Rays’ current stadium lease is up in 2027. Renderings indicate the old stadium would be demolished.
Notable
Right-hander Darren O’Day, who posted a 4.15 ERA in 28 games with the Braves in 2022, says he is retiring after 15 seasons for six teams in the major leagues.
• The Marlins acquired reliever Matt Barnes in a trade with the Red Sox. Miami sent left-hander Richard Bleier to Boston for Barnes and cash considerations.
• Longtime broadcaster Chip Caray is taking over as the play-by-play voice of the St. Louis Cardinals.
• A man who pounded a large drum while sitting in Cleveland’s outfield bleachers during baseball games for five decades died. John Adams was 71. The Guardians announced Adams’ death on Monday. Adams drummed during more than 3,500 games, including three All-Star games and three World Series. He was honored by the team last season with a replica bronze sculpture of his drum.