Diamondbacks’ World Series odds improve after signing Zack Greinke

But five times $31 million comes out to $155 million and Greinke reportedly received $206.5 million over six years Friday from the Diamondbacks.

It’s a significant promotion from the $147 million six-year contract with the Dodgers that he left behind in November, after a dominant 19-3 season which saw him narrowly miss out on another Cy Young award. Greinke had been looking for a deal with an average annual value of $31.5 million or $32 million. Now, once Zack Greinke chooses between his former Dodger teammates and his rival Giants we can … Zack Greinke to Arizona couldn’t be more shocking if the ace right-hander showed up with an actual, live Diamondback rattlesnake wrapped around his shoulders on Opening Day talking a mile a minute while sipping cactus juice. A Gold Glove victor who also likes to hit, he teamed with lefty Clayton Kershaw to give the Dodgers a formidable 1-2 combo at the top of the rotation. All it has them now is a team without Greinke and a whole new world of pressure. He struck out 200 in 222-2/3 innings.

The Dodgers had hoped Greinke and Kershaw, plus a roster that added up to the highest payroll in baseball, could lead them to their first World Series crown since 1988. Price’s contract was the most lucrative ever agreed to by a pitcher, exceeding the seven-year, $215 million contract signed by Kershaw leading up to the 2014 season. There were questions on whether Greinke would stay with the Los Angeles Dodgers or go to the San Francisco Giants, but the Diamondbacks were the ones that swooped in at the last moment and stole him. The moves came as teams prepared to head this weekend to the winter meetings in Nashville, Tennessee. Lackey, 37, posted a 2.77 ERA in 33 starts for the St. Louis Cardinals in 2015.

The other is Johnny Cueto, who reportedly rejected a six-year, $120-million offer from the Diamondbacks. The Dodgers are terrified of turning into the New York Yankees of the early 2010s and the Philadelphia Phillies of the last few years, immobilized by too many old guys making too much money. Los Angeles will receive a supplemental first round pick as compensation.

But the reality is, the Giants have Madison Bumgarner to front their rotation (an excellent spot in which to be) and Chris Heston as a promising 28-year-old behind him.

With Greinke and Price off the market, the Dodgers are scrounging around the second- and third-tier bin of starting pitchers. Industry insiders knew the San Francisco Giants were romancing Greinke hard, and most everybody thought it was coming down to a two-horse race, Dodgers vs. Giants, Hot Stove League style.

He joins the staff of Don Mattingly, who recently became the Marlins’ seventh manager since June 2010.

Tigers: Free-agent right-hander Mike Pelfrey reached a $16 million, two-year agreement with Detroit.