Best Potential Zack Greinke Trade Packages, Landing Spots

It appears that the Los Angeles Dodgers have emerged as the "mystery team" in pursuit of free-agent starter Jon Lester, and making a run at him could mean moving current No. 2 starter Zack Greinke.

Let's back up for a second, though.

The push to sign Lester appeared to be a three-team race between the Boston Red Sox, Chicago Cubs and San Francisco Giants heading into the week.

However, a report from Rob Bradford and Alex Speier of WEEI.com on Wednesday night indicated that the Dodgers had entered the chase as well.

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Multiple sources connected to teams interested in Lester have told WEEI.com that the Dodgers are a late entrant into the sweepstakes, with both serious interest in the top left-hander on the market and the resources to make a hard, late charge.

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With the No. 5 spot in the rotation open and legitimate questions as to just how effective a 34-year-old Dan Haren will be out of the No. 4 spot, it makes sense that the big-budget Dodgers would jump in the race for Lester.

That was not the end of the news out of Dodgers camp, though, as shortly after their interest in Lester was revealed came a report that shopping Greinke could be part of the process.

Chris Cotillo of SB Nation broke down just why the team could be considering moving their current No. 2 starter.

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According to major-league sources, a growing concern within the Dodgers' organization that Zach Greinke could opt out of his contract next winter may lead to the team making the right-hander available in trade talks in order to free up a rotation spot for a pitcher like Lester, James Shields or Max Scherzer.

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Greinke is slated to earn $25 million this coming season in the third year of his six-year, $147 million deal.

Opting out after the 2015 season would mean leaving $77 million on the table over the next three years, but it would also mean Greinke hitting the free-agent market again as a 32-year-old, where he would almost certainly be able to net another long-term deal.

Considering that opt-out would carry over to any team to which he was traded, Greinke has to be viewed more as a one-year rental player than someone who is under team control for four years, at least for the sake of determining his trade value.

Nonetheless, there would still be more than a few teams willing to pay big for a chance at landing one of the best right-handers in the game this season.

Here is a quick look at the best potential landing spots for Greinke.

Boston Red Sox

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Like the Dodgers, the Boston Red Sox have an abundance of outfielders right now.

That has made them an attractive trade partner for a number of teams, but someone like Yoenis Cespedes would not really be of interest to the Dodgers like he would be elsewhere.

Nonetheless, the Red Sox have a clear need for front-line pitching and a deep farm system with which to put together an attractive return package.

With the left side of the infield expected to be Xander Bogaerts and Pablo Sandoval for the foreseeable future, selling off top prospect Garin Cecchini would appear to be a solid option for the Red Sox.

The 23-year-old is one of the top third base prospects in all of baseball, and he hit .263/.341/.371 with 21 doubles and 11 stolen bases in Triple-A last season.

With 35-year-old Juan Uribe entering the final year of his deal and no clear long-term option for the Dodgers at third base down on the farm, he makes sense as a potential target.

From there it would likely take at least one more top-tier prospect to get a deal done. 

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Henry Owens and Anthony Ranaudo would likely be off the table if Cecchini were to be included, but they have a wealth of pitching options from which to pull.

Right-handers Allen Webster and Matt Barnes and left-handers Eduardo Rodriguez, Edwin Escobar, Brian Johnson and Trey Ball would all likely be of interest to the Dodgers. Webster in particular came up through the Dodgers system before being dealt to the Red Sox.

Round out the package with a lower-level prospect with upside like right-hander Simon Mercedes and it would be awfully hard for the Dodgers to say no to that package.

Chicago Cubs

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Another team in the running for Jon Lester that could be left searching for other options if he does wind up signing with the Dodgers or someone else, the Chicago Cubs figure to add a front-line starter this offseason one way or another.

The emergence of Jake Arrieta (10-5, 2.53 ERA, 2.26 FIP) and Kyle Hendricks (7-2, 2.46 ERA, 3.32 FIP) last season gave the team a pair of solid arms around whom to build their rotation, but a bona fide ace is still lacking as they look to climb back into contention.

Outside of their interest in Lester, the team has also been linked to Philadelphia Phillies ace Cole Hamels on the trade market, according to Jon Heyman of CBS Sports. However, the asking price is thought to be incredibly steep.

"Industry sources say the Phils are looking for at least three top prospects, two that can play right now and another that isn't far away," wrote Jim Salisbury of CSN Philly at the beginning of November.

If Greinke can be had for a pair of top prospects and a lower-level piece, as I'm assuming at this point if the Dodgers really are motivated to move him, he could be a far more attractive option for the Cubs.

Throwing in a big league piece like Luis Valbuena could give the Dodgers insurance for the upcoming season, but it would still take prospect pieces to get a deal done.

Minor League Player of the Year Kris Bryant is untouchable, but would the Cubs consider moving Addison Russell or Javier Baez for a chance to add Greinke?

For them to even consider that, it would likely have to come with some assurance that he would not opt out after 2015.

Those two guys trump anything the Red Sox could offer up, unless they are willing to include Xander Bogaerts or Mookie Betts, so that could be enough to put the Cubs in the driver's seat.

If one of those marquee prospects were included, it might only take a minor league arm with some upside like Paul Blackburn or Corey Black as the second piece to get a deal done.

There is still the very real possibility that the Cubs simply wait until next offseason to spend big on a starter if they miss out on Lester, so this is all strictly hypothetical at this point.

Dark Horses

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The Red Sox and Cubs have to be considered the front-runners for any front-line pitcher on the trade market this offseason if they miss out on Lester, as they both have a clear need and a deep farm system from which to pull.

However, they can't be considered the only candidates for someone like Greinke, as there are other clubs that could put together a competitive offer.

If the Pittsburgh Pirates are unable to re-sign Francisco Liriano, their rotation would have a clear need for a quality starter to slot alongside Gerrit Cole at the top of the rotation.

They also have a deep farm system at their disposal and some intriguing big league pieces like Pedro Alvarez.

The Cleveland Indians also need a proven No. 2 starter to slot behind Cy Young winner Corey Kluber, and Greinke could be a big enough addition to push them over the top and back into the playoffs.

Francisco Lindor would likely be untouchable, but Jose Ramirez could help the Dodgers immediately at shortstop.

19-year-old catching prospect Francisco Mejia would also be an attractive trade chip, but the Indians may not have enough pieces to put together a competitive package, as much of their high-end prospect talent is in the form of outfielders.

You can never count out the New York Yankees, though it would likely cost them top prospect Gaby Sanchez and at least one more high-end piece. They have finally built a respectable farm system and may not be willing to sell off pieces at this point.

The Minnesota Twins still have a clear need for starting pitching, and plenty of prospect talent, but it's hard to see them mortgaging the future for what would almost certainly be one year of Greinke.

It would no doubt mean including catching prospect Jorge Alfaro for the Texas Rangers to have a chance at Greinke, and while he would be a great addition alongside Yu Darvish and Derek Holland, they may not be willing to part with their prized prospect.

As always, some mystery team could also emerge out of nowhere, so that has to be considered as well.

When it's all said and done, the free-spending Dodgers may very well wind up signing Lester and keeping Greinke in an all-in effort to win in 2015. Still, it's at least worth exploring where a pitcher as good as Greinke could wind up.

All stats courtesy of Baseball-Reference, unless otherwise noted.