Zack Greinke rumors: Dodgers determined to sign free agent

The Los Angeles Dodgers seem determined to sign free agent right-hander Zack Greinke, "no matter the cost," reports Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com:

But it seems pretty clear who is going to offer Greinke the biggest deal. The Dodgers seem determined to sign him, no matter the cost. As Dodgers president Stan Kasten said, "We are the opposite of the mystery team."

When Heyman asked one person associated with the Dodgers about their budget this winter, they responded with "what budget?" One rival executive said that he believes the Dodgers "just don’t care" how much acquisitions cost.

Los Angeles made this clear over the summer in signing international free agent Yasiel Puig to a mammoth contract, acquiring Hanley Ramirez from the Miami Marlins and landing Carl Crawford, Adrian Gonzalez and Josh Beckett from the Boston Red Sox.

While Greinke isn’t your normal free agent according to friends, as he values comfort and winning along with the paycheck, Heyman believes it’s pretty clear the Dodgers are going to offer the right-hander the largest free agent contract this winter.

Greinke started 34 games with the Milwaukee Brewers and Los Angeles Angels last season, posting an ERA of 3.48 over 212 1/3 innings pitched. Over nine years at the major league level the 29-year-old has maintained an ERA of 3.77 with 8.0 strikeouts and 2.3 walks per nine innings.