Report: Greinke drawing minimal trade interest

If the Arizona Diamondbacks want to rid themselves of the remaining five years and $172.5 million on Zack Greinke's deal, it's not going to be easy.

Teams are showing minimal trade interest in the right-handed ace thanks to his hefty contract, FOX Sports' Ken Rosenthal reports, citing sources. The Diamondbacks are also not aggressively marketing the starter due to a reluctance to take on a substantial portion of Greinke's remaining salary, Rosenthal adds.

Greinke is coming off one of the worst seasons of his career after posting a 4.37 ERA and 1.27 WHIP in 26 starts this past year.

It was a far contrast from his 2015 form, when the former Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher recorded a 1.66 ERA and 0.84 WHIP - both MLB bests - and finished runner-up in Cy Young voting, leading to the Diamondbacks signing him to a six-year, $206.5-million deal last offseason.

According to Rosenthal, however, rival executives feel the Diamondbacks will not be able to see out the rest of Greinke's deal, thanks to lower revenues from a disastrous 69-93 season and a need to sign franchise player Paul Goldschmidt to an extension soon.

The first baseman is under contract for another three seasons - including a $14.5-million club option in 2019 - though Arizona will hope to avoid losing him to free agency as he enters his age-32 season in 2020.