MLB Rumors: Zack Greinke, Royals Agree to 1-Year Contract; Won Cy Young Award in 2009

Zack Greinke has decided to remain where his career began for what could be his final season in Major League Baseball.

The veteran right-hander agreed to a one-year deal to remain with the Kansas City Royals, according to Bob Fescoe of 610 Sports Radio.

Fescoe noted the Royals will officially announce the deal on Tuesday.

Greinke spent the 2022 campaign with the Royals after signing a one-year, $13 million deal to return to the franchise. In 26 starts, he went 4-9 with a 3.68 ERA, 1.34 WHIP and 73 strikeouts across 137 innings.

The 39-year-old began his career with the Royals in 2004 and spent his first seven seasons in Kansas City, finishing fourth in Rookie of the Year voting in 2004, winning the Cy Young award in 2009 and also earning an All-Star selection that year.

He went 16-8 in his Cy Young-winning season with a 2.16 ERA, 1.07 WHIP and 242 strikeouts in 229.1 innings across 33 starts.

Greinke joined the Milwaukee Brewers in 2012 and was traded to the Los Angeles Angels that year. He was with the Los Angeles Dodgers from 2013 to 2015 before joining the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2016.

The Diamondbacks traded Greinke to the Houston Astros in 2019, and he remained with the franchise through the 2021 campaign.

One of Greinke's best seasons came in 2015 as a member of the Dodgers. He went 19-3 with a 1.66 ERA, 0.84 WHIP and 200 strikeouts in 222.2 innings across 32 starts.

In 19 major league seasons, Greinke has won a Cy Young award, six Gold Gloves, two Silver Sluggers, two ERA Titles and earned six All-Star selections.

While he's undoubtedly past his prime, Greinke should still be a solid contributor in the Kansas City rotation alongside Daniel Lynch, Brady Singer, Kris Bubic and Jonathan Heasley.

However, the Royals finished last in the AL Central with a 65-97 record. They've had a very quiet offseason and will be hoping young players like Bobby Witt, Brady Singer and Vinnie Pasquantino take steps forward to help them challenge for a playoff spot in 2023.