In deciding the fate of manager Don Mattingly, Dodgers management may tip their hand in their approach in retaining ace pitcher Zack Greinke.
The right-hander with the 19-3 record and 1.66 earned-run average in 2015 will opt out of his contract with Los Angeles that was worth $71 million over three years, CBS Sports reported.
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Greinke was happy with the roster changes the Dodgers made after 2014 to create a more harmonious clubhouse, according to CBS Sports. And while he opted out his contract, he did so purely for financial reasons, as he could command anywhere from $125 million to $150 for a five-year deal.
If the Dodgers are serious about retaining Greinke, one lure could be the retention of Mattingly, another CBS Sports report suggests.
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"Dodgers higher-ups are said to give Don Mattingly big credit for the way he's handled the clubhouse, and particularly some sticky situations, including the spring situation of Andre Ethier (and many other situations), which is why he should stay," the report said. "Dodgers owners, led by Mark Walter, are also said to very much like Mattingly. And it also doesn't hurt him that the team's two biggest stars -- Clayton Kershaw and Zack Greinke -- are quite comfortable with Mattingly as manager."
Both CBS Sports and the New York Post suggest that the Dodgers are leaning toward paying Greinke more money to stay.
"With their payroll and expectations, the Dodgers are not going to leave a giant hole behind Kershaw in the rotation," the Post reported.
So if the Dodgers want Greinke back, would they risk losing him by sending Mattingly away?
While criticism of Mattingly's moves in the NLDS against the Mets have been noted in the Los Angeles Times, it's apparent he does have allies in the Dodgers clubhouse.
The question management needs to answer if Greinke supports Mattingly's retention is whether they have an adequate backup plan if they don't sign the pitcher.
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