Now that the national MLB reporters have been scooped by a blog on the Zack Greinke trade, they're coming out with reports of teams that were close to acquiring Greinke before the Kansas City Royals decided to send him to the Milwaukee Brewers.
Jon Heyman of SI.com reports the Royals were close to a deal with the Washington Nationals but Greinke wouldn't approve the trade.
royals were close to deal w/ nats. but greinke had right to reject trade to wash and told kc he wouldnt go. he approved crew, tho
Greinke had 15 teams on his no-trade list so he had some control here. SB Nation's Nationals blog, Federal Baseball, looked at a possible Greinke trade on Saturday before the news broke.
The top pitching prospect in the Nats' system heading into the '09 season, who's fully-recovered from Tommy John surgery, will turn 25 next May and is expected to pitch at or near the top of Washington's rotation this year. The Nats' second '09 1st Round pick, a 23-year-old major-league ready closer who has only to claim the job this Spring for it to be his. The top infield prospect in the Nats' system, who made his MLB debut at 23-years-old last season and figures to start at second if he's not dealt. How much do the Nats want Zack Greinke?
Check out Federal Baseball for the names reported to be involved.