Is Zack Greinke considering retirement? Pitching legend unsure about his future amidst Diamondbacks trial

For Zack Greinke, some of the best years of his career came during his time pitching for the Arizona Diamondbacks. Now, despite not having laced them up for the team in half a decade, the veteran ace is on familiar territory.

Despite the fact that Greinke is a 40 year-old free agent, the right-hander has been using the D-Backs facilities in Arizona to train. Currently playing under the Snakes' extended training camp, Greinke first got in touch with the organization after his sons expressed their interest in playing on a spring training field.

While Zack Greinke has helped various D-Backs players such as Geraldo Perdomo and Alek Thomas during rehab stints this year, he is not a member of the team. Moreover, according to Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic, Greinke and the team are “not believed to have had discussions about a reunion.”

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A first-round draft pick of the Kansas City Royals in 2002, Greinke spent the first six seasons of his career in KC. After finishing fourth in AL Rookie of the Year voting in 2004, Greinke went on to amass a 16-8 record alongside a league-best 2.16 ERA to win the 2010 AL Cy Young Award.

After the Royals, Greinke went on to join the Dodgers, where he would win a pair of Gold Gloves and a Silver Slugger. In 2016, Greinke joined the Arizona Diamondbacks, where he would win four straight Gold Gloves between 2016 and 2019.

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Following a stint on the Houston Astros, Zack Greinke returned to the Kansas City Royals under a one-year contract for the 2022 season. In 2023, the Florida-native re-signed for $8.5 million, finishing the year with a 5.06 ERA and a 2-15 record.

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Veteran Zack Greinke is realistic about chances of returning to MLB

Despite being a native of Arizona who has experience with the club, the fact that Greinke has been using the D-Backs' facilities does not nessecarily point to an imminent deal. Speaking to the Arizona Republic, Greinke said:

"I don’t know if this will be my last time throwing or if I’ll throw the rest of the year and next year. I don’t really know at the moment. …. I’m just throwing, seeing how it works out and going from there.”

While there may yet be some gas left in his tank, Greinke, more than anyone, likely understands that his days of dominating MLB hitters are likely behind him.