Now here's the chance to REALLY get creative. Harry mentioned it yesterday, and I just couldn't see Kemp as part of the deal. Now, however, he's no longer hanging over AA's head.
All the reports I've read say they weren't interested in taking a bad contract back, but what about a good contract??? Those reports also mentioned that Arizona would also be looking for a much less expensive starter in the event he's dealt, so...
Julio and Allard for Greinke with the Diamondbacks eating the deferred money while we pay the installments that cover his initial signing bonus ($3 million per).
Both are under control for the same amount of time, and Allard will give them another SP within 2 years. Greinke would become a 4 year/$96 million investment for the Braves and be the "Ace" we've needed forever - on about as good a contract as we could ask for. If we really have $130 million available, replacing Julio with Zack puts us right at the number for 2018 ($130,705,000 if all bonuses are reached this season), and our rotation then becomes Greinke, Gohara, Folty, Newcomb, McCarthy with Fried and Sims to fill in when needed and Soroka and Wright on the way. It also adds your "Ace" while only pushing committed payroll in 2019 to ~ $50,300,000 meaning AA can still play on Donaldson. Bump the AAV for him to $30 million per to get him on a 4 year deal, and you'd control Greinke and the rest of the rotation, Freeman, Donaldson, Ender, Albies, and Acuna through at least 2021 with plenty of money left to spend starting next season in the event Riley doesn't become your LF, you need to go get a Closer (Kimbrel, Miller, Robertson, Britton, Herrera, Allen, Doolittle, and Familia will all be available), and what's left should cover arby raises and/or extensions.
It would leave the D-Backs with Ray as their "Ace", Corbin, Walker, Godley, and Julio with Duplantier, Allard, and Clarke on the way and clear much of the money they need to try to re-sign Martinez.
