LOS ANGELES -- As expected, right-hander Zack Greinke exercised the opt-out clause in his contract with the Dodgers Wednesday and officially became a free agent.
Signed to a six-year, $147 million contract as a free agent by the Dodgers before the 2013 season, Greinke forfeits the final three years and $71 million of that deal. He is almost certain to double that on the open market now.
Greinke (who recently turned 32) is a frontrunner to win the National League Cy Young Award after leading the majors in ERA (1.66) and WHIP (0.84) this season while going 19-3 in 32 starts.