Pitching around baseball is at a premium, and many starting pitchers are netting lucrative deals from clubs looking to add established arms. This offseason, a plethora of starting pitchers hit the open market and so far, teams have focused on signing a top-of-the-rotation type. Here is a look at the five biggest contracts, in terms of average annual value, given to starting pitchers this offseason.
Zack Greinke -- $206.5 million over six years with the Arizona Diamondbacks -- $34.4 million AAV
After signing with the Dodgers in 2012 on a six-year, $147 million contract with an opt-out clause, many speculated that Greinke would exercise his opt-out at the end of 2015. Greinke did exactly that, and struck it rich. The two contracts combined have Greinke earning $282.5 million over nine seasons. He was helped by his stellar 2015 in which he posted a 19-3 record, 200 strikeouts and a 1.66 ERA, the lowest ERA for a starting pitcher since Hall of Famer Greg Maddux's 1.63 ERA in 1995. The 2009 American League Cy Young Award Winner finished second only to Chicago's Jake Arrieta in the 2015 National League Cy Young Award voting. Over the last four seasons, Greinke has been a model of consistency, winning at least 15 games in the past four seasons, and accruing at least 200 innings and 200 strikeouts in three of the last four. Although the Diamondbacks paid a lot for the right-hander, they now have a bona fide ace as well as a mentor to righty Shelby Miller and lefty Patrick Corbin.
David Price -- $217 million over seven years with the Boston Red Sox -- $31 million AAV
Price is no stranger to the American League East, having pitched parts of seven seasons there with the Rays and the Blue Jays. He has a career record of 104-56 and a career ERA of 3.09. Of his seven full seasons, Price has won at least 10 games in all seven, and has made 31 or more starts in five of the seven. The 2012 American League Cy Young Award winner finished second to Dallas Keuchel in the 2015 AL Cy Young voting while splitting the season between Detroit and Toronto. Price will bolster a Red Sox rotation that struggled mightily in 2015, as they posted the third worst starter's ERA in the AL at 4.39. He will provide the Sox with an ace, which was just what they lacked as their rotation featured No. 3 starters such as Rick Porcello and Joe Kelly. The Red Sox, having previously acquired closer Craig Kimbrel from the Padres to bolster the bullpen, have now made the move needed to solidify their rotation to be able to contend in 2016.
Johnny Cueto -- $130 million over five years with the San Francisco Giants -- $26 million AAV
After an outstanding 2014 in which he went 20-9 with a 2.25 ERA, Cueto took a step back in 2015, finishing with a record of 11-13 with a 3.44 ERA. His numbers with the Reds were very good, as he posted a 2.62 ERA in 19 starts, but they dropped off with the Royals, as he posted a 4.76 ERA in 13 starts. Moving back to the National League will help Cueto, especially when making his home starts at the spacious AT&T Park. Over his career, Cueto has accrued a 96-70 record with an ERA of 3.30. What Cueto provides for the Giants is innings. Besides Madison Bumgarner, the Giants have not had a starting pitcher throw 200 innings since Matt Cain did so in 2012. Cueto has posted more than 200 innings in three of the past four years. With the D-backs signing Greinke and acquiring Miller in a trade with the Atlanta Braves, signing Cueto was the perfect move for the Giants to respond.
Jordan Zimmermann -- $110 million over five years with the Detroit Tigers -- $22 million AAV
Zimmermann has been a model of durability over the past four seasons, posting at least 195 innings and 12 wins a season in that span. He owns a career record of 70-50 with a 3.32 ERA. The 29-year-old righty went 13-10 with a 3.66 ERA in 2015 and reached the 200 strikeout plateau for the first time in his career. The Tigers, having traded David Price and having lost Max Scherzer to free agency over the past year, have solidified their rotation with this move, as their top three will consist of Justin Verlander, Zimmermann and Anibal Sanchez.
Jeff Samardzija -- $90 million over five years with the San Francisco Giants -- $18 million AAV
Samardzija had a rough 2015, posting the third worst ERA in the Majors at 4.96. This though, was due to a mechanics breakdown in addition to an overuse of the cutter. After addressing the issues, Samardzija had showings of his old self in his last two starts of the season, which included a complete game one-hitter against the Tigers. Samardzija will never be a low ERA guy, nor an ace, but he brings tremendous value due to his competitiveness on the mound, character and the ability to eat innings. San Francisco is a perfect landing spot for the veteran righty, and just like with Cueto, Samardzija will benefit from pitching at AT&T Park.
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