Dodgers’ Zack Greinke wins second straight Gold Glove
Reporting from BOCA RATON, Fla — Zack Greinke won his second consecutive Gold Glove Award as the best-fielding pitcher in the National League in a vote of managers, coaches and sabermetricians.
Greinke became the first Dodgers player to win the award in consecutive seasons since first baseman Steve Garvey won four consecutive times from 1974-1977.
Greinke was also identified as one of three finalists for the NL Cy Young Award, which is voted on by members of the Baseball Writers Assn. of America. Clayton Kershaw of the Dodgers and Jake Arrieta of the Chicago Cubs are the other finalists. The winner will be announced on Nov. 18.
At baseball’s general managers meetings, Dodgers GM Farhan Zaidi revealed that the team approached Greinke during the season in an effort to retain him.
“We definitely expressed our interest in having him return,” Zaidi said. “With the season he had, I think there was an intent on their part to play out the season and get to this part and make a decision on the player option.”
When the season ended, Greinke became a free agent by forfeiting a guaranteed $71 million over the next three years. He is expected to sign a nine-figure contract.
Honor roll
Another notable Gold Glove winner was Dee Gordon, whom the Dodgers traded the Miami Marlins last winter in part because of his perceived defensive shortcomings. Gordon is the first major league infielder to win a batting title, a stolen base title and a Gold Glove in the same season.
Gordon’s $2.5-million salary this year was paid by the Dodgers.
Managerial search
The Dodgers are close to finishing the first round of interviews for their vacant managerial position.
“Certainly by the end of the week, we’ll be done with the first round,” Zaidi said.
Chicago Cubs bench coach Dave Martinez is expected to be interviewed this week at the general managers meetings. Martinez joins a list of publicly known candidates that includes Gabe Kapler, Dave Roberts, Tim Wallach, Ron Roenicke, Kirk Gibson, Darin Erstad, Bob Geren and Bud Black.
Zaidi said the list soon would be reduced to three or four finalists.
Commissioner concerned
Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred acknowledged he is worried the Dodgers’ television blackout could extend into a third season.
“My concern could not be higher,” Manfred said. “I think that the Dodgers and the Los Angeles market are crucial to Major League Baseball and its reach. This has gone on a long time.”
Manfred said he is optimistic SportsNet LA, the Dodgers-owned cable channel, could have more widespread distribution in time for next season.
“I’m hopeful that there are dynamics in play beyond baseball, in terms of corporate activity, that may create some flexibility and, hopefully, we will get a resolution in time for the 2016 season,” he said.
Charter Cable is in the process of a proposed takeover of Time Warner Cable, which has distribution rights for SportsNet LA. Once federal regulators approve the merger — the companies are hopeful that can happen before the start of the upcoming season — Charter will attempt to sell SportsNet LA to cable and satellite operators that don’t carry the channel.
Twitter: @dylanohernandez
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