Zack Greinke rocked in Boston, on pace for worst season in more than decade
Zack Greinke's season is not over, but he's all but assured that 2016 will go down as his most ignominious in more than a decade.
Greinke joined the Arizona Diamondbacks by signing the largest contract based on average annual value in baseball history, and his $31.8 million salary this year is second only to former Los Angeles Dodgers teammate Clayton Kershaw. But Greinke's disastrous start Sunday at Fenway Park was just the latest grim outing in a season that's been trying for he and the Diamondbacks.
Greinke recorded just five outs but gave up nine earned runs to the Boston Red Sox, departing after Jackie Bradley Jr.'s two-run homer in the botttom of the second. Mookie Betts homered in the first and second against Greinke.
Greinke's earned-run average increased 3.67 to 4.31; unfortunately for him, it was far from his only disastrous outing this season.
In 18 starts, Greinke's already given up 56 earned runs, exceeding his total the entire 2013 and 2015 seasons. Last year, Greinke gave up just 41 earned runs over 32 starts, and his 1.66 ERA was the best in the major leagues.
That prompted the Diamondbacks to sign him to a six-year, $206.5 million contract as the centerpiece of an off-season re-tooling. While trade target Shelby Miller has garnered much of the grief for Arizona's disappointing season - earning a minor league demotion - Greinke also appears in need of an off-season reboot.
Sunday's start was Greinke's second since returning from a six-week absence due to an oblique injury. His ERA would be his worst since 2005, when he went 5-17 with a 5.80 ERA in his first full major league season.