Zack Greinke Traded: Where He Ranks Among the Top 10 Pitchers in the NL
The Milwaukee Brewers pulled the trigger on a big-time trade Sunday and, no, it wasn't the much talked-about Prince Fielder move, as they acquired disgruntled Kansas City Royals ace Zack Greinke.
That begs the question: Where does Greinke fall in amongst the best of the National League? Between the St. Louis Cardinals duo of Chris Carpenter and Adam Wainwright, the Philadelphia Phillies "Big Four" and the San Francisco Giants duo of Tim Lincecum and Matt Cain, among others, the NL is not short on great starting pitching.
So here is the list of the NL's 10 best pitchers for 2011 and where Greinke falls into the mix now that he has joined Milwaukee.
No. 10: Matt Cain
1 of 10
2010 Stats: 13-11, 3.14 ERA, 130 ERA+, 177 Ks
Career Stats: 57-62, 3.45 ERA, 126 ERA+, 906 Ks
Cain continues to get better with each passing season and while Lincecum gets the spotlight in San Francisco as the team's No. 1 pitcher, Cain comes in at No. 1A.
It is hard to believe Cain is still just 25 years old, after he made his debut at the age of 20, and he could just now be entering his prime—a scary thought for the rest of the National League.
No. 9: Ubaldo Jimenez
2 of 10
2010 Stats: 19-8, 2.88 ERA, 161 ERA+, 214 Ks
Career Stats: 50-36, 3.52 ERA, 133 ERA+, 655 Ks
Despite a late-season fall-off, there is no denying just how good Jimenez was in the first half last season. He was the talk of the baseball world, pitching a no-hitter and posting an amazing 15-1 record by the All-Star break.
The fall-off is a bit of a concern, but the movement he gets on his 100 mile per hour fastball is unheard of, and he has the stuff to succeed no matter where he is pitching, even if it is Colorado.
No. 8: Johan Santana
3 of 10
2010 Stats: 11-9, 2.98 ERA, 131 ERA+, 144 Ks
Career Stats: 133-69, 3.10 ERA, 142 ERA+, 1,877 Ks
Santana has been a bit of a forgotten man the past few seasons, as the New York Mets have struggled mightily and his win totals have taken a hit because of it.
That said, he is still one of the game's best, he is still just 31 years old and only four seasons removed from his last Cy Young Award. A bounce-back season by the Mets could once again put Santana among baseball's elite.
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No. 7: Zack Greinke
4 of 10
2010 Stats: 10-14, 4.17 ERA, 100 ERA+, 181 Ks
Career Stats: 60-67, 3.82 ERA, 116 ERA+, 931 Ks
Just a year removed from his Cy Young season, Greinke played uninspired ball last season. Who could blame him, as he was playing for the perennially rebuilding Royals?
His move to the NL and, more importantly, to a contender, could make for a return to form for Greinke. While there will be pressure to succeed after demanding a trade, he has the tools to push the Brewers over the top.
No. 6: Chris Carpenter
5 of 10
2010 Stats: 16-9, 3.22 ERA, 122 ERA+, 179 Ks
Career Stats: 133-83, 3.80 ERA, 117 ERA+, 1,494 Ks
Carpenter's bounce back from injury is one of the most impressive in baseball history and he has combined with Wainwright to form arguably the NL's best tandem the past few seasons.
He will be 36 at the start of next season, so how much longer he can maintain his current level of success is in question. But for now, there is no reason to believe he won't dominate once again next season.
No. 5: Josh Johnson
6 of 10
2010 Stats: 11-6, 2.30 ERA, 182 ERA+, 186 Ks
Career Stats: 45-22, 3.10 ERA, 138 ERA+, 611 Ks
For all of the hype surrounding Jimenez and Roy Halladay this past season, Johnson may well have been the NL's most dominant pitcher, as he led the Senior Circuit in ERA and was incredible in the first half with a 1.70 ERA in 18 starts.
His season was cut short by injury, but there is little doubt he has emerged as one of the premier starters, not only in the National League, but in all of baseball.
No. 4: Adam Wainwright
7 of 10
2010 Stats: 20-11, 2.42 ERA, 161 ERA+, 213 Ks
Career Stats: 66-35, 2.97 ERA, 140 ERA+, 724 Ks
While Carpenter has started to show signs of aging, Wainwright continues to get better and can be viewed as the ace of the Cardinals staff now.
He is a gamer and he seems to give the Cardinals a quality start every time he takes the mound, exactly what you look for in a top-of-the-rotation guy.
No. 3: Tim Lincecum
8 of 10
2010 Stats: 16-10, 3.43 ERA, 119 ERA+, 231 Ks
Career Stats: 56-27, 3.04 ERA, 142 ERA+, 907 Ks
Despite struggling through a bit of a rough patch last season, there is little question that Lincecum is still among the game's best and if the Giants hope to repeat as champions, they will need a big season out of him.
When his mechanics are sound, there may be no better strikeout pitcher in baseball today than Lincecum. As he is joined in the rotation by Cain, Jonathan Sanchez and postseason-revelation Madison Bumgarner, the Giants will once again be favored in the NL West.
No. 2: Cliff Lee
9 of 10
2010 Stats: 12-9, 3.18 ERA, 130 ERA+, 185 Ks
Career Stats: 102-61, 3.85 ERA, 112 ERA+, 1085 Ks
The free-agent prize of the offseason, Lee defied baseball logic and turned down the New York Yankees' money to sign with the Phillies and join Halladay, Roy Oswalt and Cole Hamels in what may go down as the best rotation in history before all is said and done.
While Halladay will no doubt be the ace of the staff once again, Lee is the best postseason pitcher in the game today and he pitches his best on the biggest stage.
No. 1: Roy Halladay
10 of 10
2010 Stats: 21-10, 2.44 ERA, 165 ERA+, 219 Ks
Career Stats: 169-86, 3.32 ERA, 136 ERA+, 1714 Ks
Until someone steps up and says otherwise, Halladay is the best of the best in the National League and the 2010 season may have been his best to date.
He brought us a slew of memorable moments last season, from his regular-season perfect game, to his postseason no-hitter, to his capturing of the NL Cy Young in his first season with the Phillies.
Simply put, Halladay is as good as it gets.
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