Report: Greinke is available

Stunning news out of Yorba Linda today, the Kansas City Royals could be willing to part with a low-rent player who stunk for a while and then got really good and now they can’t afford him.

That’s not entirely the case, but it’s close enough. According to ESPN’s Buster Olney, the Royals will “listen to any and all offers” for right hander Zack Greinke. His 4.17 ERA was disappointing this year, but that just might mean that someone can get him at a discount.

He is scheduled to make $13.5 million in each of the next two seasons, which is a bargain if he’s able to sniff his 2009 form. That year, he lit up the AL, winning a Cy Young Award with a 2.16 ERA.

The Royals are expected to have an infusion of top prospects in 2011 and 2012 when Greinke won’t be around to help. They’ll need time to develop, and lord knows they wouldn’t be able to re-sign him if he has a couple decent years.