Astros, Greinke talked after ALCS comments: 'We have confidence in him'
Zack Greinke and the Houston Astros' front office had a discussion about his role with the team after the right-hander's comments during the American League Championship Series.
"We had a long conversation. It was great. It was a very healthy conversation," Astros general manager James Click told reporters, according to Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle. "He expressed his views and why he made the comments and I mostly listened. My job in that situation was I think just to listen to a Hall of Famer and find out why he would be frustrated by those kind of things."
"He wanted clarity on what we expected of him going forward and that was something that we will continue to talk about internally," he added.
Astros manager Dusty Baker let the veteran hurler pitch out of a jam in Game 4 of the ALCS, after which Greinke praised his skipper for having "confidence in me," something he said was missing since Houston acquired him at the 2019 trade deadline.
Greinke referenced Game 7 of the 2019 World Series, when then-manager AJ Hinch pulled him amid a stellar start only for the bullpen to blow the game. He said there are "probably a dozen examples if you look back at it."
The 2009 Cy Young winner pitched into the seventh inning only twice and reached the eighth just once during his 12 regular-season starts this year. Framber Valdez replaced Greinke after four innings during one of his playoff starts.
Click said Greinke's usage doesn't mean the organization has lost any faith in his abilities.
"The fact of the matter is, Zack Greinke is a Hall of Famer and absolutely we have confidence in him," Click said.
Greinke posted a 4.03 ERA this year, though that came with a solid 2.80 FIP, 67 strikeouts, and only six homers allowed.
The 36-year-old is under contract for one more season at $25 million. He can block trades to 15 teams, according to Cot's Contracts.