Dodgers Start To Wonder If Greinke Prefers Texas
NASHVILLE (CBS SPORTS) - Dodgers people have begun to sound a bit less optimistic within the last day or so about their pursuit of star free-agent pitcher Zack Greinke. And although there's no evidence anything is close or decided in Texas' favor, a couple of Dodgers people even suggested that they are beginning to wonder whether Greinke may simply prefer the Rangers.
But while some Dodgers people are starting to seem slightly discouraged, Rangers officials are suggesting that they are unaware that they even lead the derby and are still wondering whether their division rival Angels could pull a last-minute surprise, like they did last year with Albert Pujols. Texas people suggested they believe it's at least a two-team battle (with the Dodgers), and maybe a three-team skirmish.
The Dodgers' discouragement may only reflect a slow pace of negotiations. However, folks believe there is an attractiveness for Greinke to the Rangers' situation, from their recent successes to their ultra-deep farm system to the slower-paced lifestyle of Texas to the relative proximity to his home state of Florida (at least compared to L.A.).
The derby for Greinke, by far the top free-agent pitcher, has been thought for at least a couple days to be a big-money showdown between the Dodgers and Rangers, with even Texas' seeming new-found equal footing a surprise in light of the fact that Los Angeles has started to be seen as a team with an unlimited budget.
(©2012 CBS SPORTS. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
Also Check Out:
