There’s not a prayer that Snider is included in any Greinke deal, but the Jays could technically absorb the loss of Drabek + others to trade for Greinke.

Just because they could, should they? As I stated before almost one month ago, absolutely not. The Jays are giving up 3-4 quality pieces to overpay for two years of Greinke (which I’m not saying would be a bad thing) at $13.5M each.

http://jaysjournal.com/2010/11/11/rumor-roundup-the-argument-against-zack-greinke/

That’s a really interesting take on it. I had considered the “what if” of when Lee signs with NY and less so of if he signs with Texas. If Greinke truly wants to stay away from NY or BOS, teams like TOR/LAA/CHW would become favorites.

I have also heard about both Fielder and Boras wanting to play it out until he reaches FA. However, when BOS just landed Adrian Gonzalez, I think the game changed. Here’s a list of the big spending teams and their 1B:

NY – Mark Texeira
BOS – Adrian Gonzalez
LAA – Kendry Morales
PHI – Ryan Howard
MIN – Justin Morneau
STL – Albert Pujols
CIN – Joey Votto
CHW – Adam Dunn / probably Paul Konerko

That doesn’t leave Scott and Prince with much leverage come FA time. Sure, he can be used as a full time DH, but he won’t get anywhere near the money he wants in that role and it takes away all NL teams like the Mets and Dodgers. I still believe there’s a great chance he’ll be a Jay by the time 2011 starts – whether it’s as a rental player or with an extension signed.

Regardless of how we spin it, the price being reported is still way too steep for Greinke.

As for Arizona, they’re cutting costs as far as I know, not increasing them, so I’m not sure Zack’s high on their list. I could be wrong, but that’s the sense I got last season when they started shedding salary and thought that was why they were shopping Justin Upton and Mark Reynolds.

I love the he “wants to win NOW” comment. If he did, he’d sign with the Yanks and call it a day. He wants to win, but he wants to do so under his own terms and with the team that gives him the best chance to do so. Do you really believe he looks at the Jays that way? When they’re facing the newly supped up Red Sox and still wealthy Yankees? I would think he’d see the Jays as a major underdog, not a favorite. So if he does want to win now, he’ll avoid the Jays at all costs and go for an easier playoff route in the AL West – whether it’s with Texas or the Angels.

Just my thoughts on your great comments Randy!

“@renegadeda: drabek, hech, perez for grienke fair?”

That would be one starter which is less than what KC wants, Adeiny, and Carlos Perez

Jim’s response:

“#Royals can do better than that. His contract runs thru 2012, no need to rush trade”

You get a feeling that throughout the industry, people know KC can land a huge deal for Zack. They’re in no rush to deal him, at least until Cliff Lee signs, and can ask for a King’s ransom after that happens. That’s why I think the Jays will walk away. A king’s ransom based on market conditions is just not worth it.

To Randy: It’s not that Toronto is the media hype, it’s that Boston and New York are and that Greinke would be facing them a ton in the course of the season. Whether you like it or not, the Jays are in the AL East and therefore are in the highest pressure division in all of MLB. That, from what I’ve heard and read, is not what Greinke wants. I’d also add that I doubt KC makes the deal without Snider included based on what they’re asking from in rumored deals with Texas (Borbon, Perez, and Holland as a possible foundation to a deal with them).

My opinion goes back to the Prince Fielder situation. The Jays are one of only a few teams who can afford him AND have the pitching to deal for him. If they trade for Greinke, they no longer have that option available to them. So to me, it’s Fielder or Greinke, and I’ll take Fielder 10 times out of 10.

The rotation Steve mentions above is intriguing, but when it costs you Drabek, Snider, Stewart and another couple of prospects, it’s not worth it. One injury to Marcum and/or a couple of injuries and the Jays would be left sifting through the bottom of the barrel for a replacement. Depth is key in pitching, just ask the 2010 Red Sox.

If the Jays are going to be a major player, they need to have one of the better lineups in MLB. They’re 1 big bat away from being there, so why deal a bat now? Snider will break through and make them regret it if they deal him. I, for one, certainly hope they don’t unless it’s for an upgrade like Matt Kemp.