Free-agent pitcher Zack Greinke and the Los Angeles Dodgers tried to close a deal Saturday night worth $147 million over six years, a person familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press.
The person spoke on condition of anonymity Saturday night because there was no completed contract.
Greinke is the top arm on the open market, and has attracted interest from the Dodgers, Rangers and Angels.
The 29-year-old righty started last season with Milwaukee and was later traded to the Angels, going a combined 15-5 with a 3.48 ERA.
The 2009 AL Cy Young winner with Kansas City would be the latest high-priced player to be acquired by the Dodgers. They traded for first baseman Adrian Gonzalez, shortstop Hanley Ramirez, pitcher Josh Beckett and outfielder Carl Crawford late last season.
With the Dodgers, Greinke would pair with 2011 NL Cy Young winner Clayton Kershaw for a formidable top of the rotation.
The Dodgers, infused with money after the sale this year to an ownership group that includes Magic Johnson, went 86-76 last season and finished eight games behind eventual World Series champion San Francisco in the NL West.
Greinke is 91-78 with a 3.77 ERA in nine seasons with the Royals, Brewers and Angels.
While they await completion of the Greinke deal, the Dodgers signed South Korean pitcher Ryu Hyun-jin to a $36 million, six-year deal on Sunday.
The team and Ryu had until Sunday afternoon to reach an agreement or else the left-hander would have returned home and the Dodgers would have been refunded the $25.7 million fee they paid for exclusive rights to negotiate with him.
Ryu becomes the first player to go directly from the Korea Baseball Organization to the U.S. big leagues.
The 25-year-old pitcher has spent seven seasons with the Hanwha Eagles in the Korean league and was an All-Star each year. He was rookie of the year and MVP of the league at age 19, and is 98-52 with a 2.80 ERA in his career.
Phillies finalize trade for Young
Michael Young’s leadership skills were as attractive to the Philadelphia Phillies as his hitting ability.
The Phillies acquired the seven-time All-Star infielder from the Texas Rangers for two relief pitchers, filling a void at third base.
The deal was announced Sunday, a day after Young agreed to waive his no-trade clause.
“Michael brings a lot to our team, not just on the field, but off it as well,” Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. said. “He has been one of the premiere hitters in the American League for a decade and is someone who has a tremendous presence in the clubhouse. We couldn’t be happier that he has accepted the assignment to come to the Phillies.”
Young batted .277 with eight homers and 67 RBI in 2012, a down year for him. He hit .288 with runners in scoring position and .333 against left-handed pitchers.
He made 40 starts at first base, 25 at third base, 14 at second base and four at shortstop.
