The Yankees were willing to overlook their concerns about Zack Greinke’s ability to handle New York if they could construct a trade they found tolerable for the righty.
But the Yanks ultimately decided Kansas City’s asking price — combined with their fears about Greinke’s makeup — were too much to consummate a deal, The Post has learned.
Greinke ended up going to the Brewers on Sunday, and the Yankees remained without a high-end complement to CC Sabathia in their dubious rotation.
The Yanks last talked seriously to Kansas City at the Winter Meetings two weeks ago. Until then the Royals had let the Yankees know they were prioritizing middle-of-the-diamond position players and high-end arms in return for Greinke.
At the meetings the Yanks learned the full extent of what Kansas City would need to complete a deal. The Royals wanted catcher Jesus Montero, shortstop Eduardo Nunez and either Dellin Betances or Manuel Banuelos. The sides did not get further than that in discussions, but the Royals also said tjeu would need a fourth piece, another pitcher. Kansas City liked the Triple A-level arms such as Hector Noesi, Ivan Nova, Adam Warren and David Phelps.
The Yanks view Montero as their top position prospect and Betances and Banuelos as their top pitching prospects. And the Yanks felt it was just too much to surrender both of those entities, plus another pitching prospect and Nunez, whom the Royals have long coveted, when they remained uncertain about Greinke coping in New York.
Greinke suffered from social anxiety disorder and depression earlier in his career and it was believed he wanted nothing to do with a big city such as New York. However, the Yanks did believe Greinke badly wanted out of Kansas City and was willing to try to pitch in New York.
That motivated them to investigate the asking price. Because in a vacuum — without temperament as an issue — the Yanks assess Greinke as an elite starter; a righty with four above-average pitches and strong control who they project would excel playing with a better defense and offense than he had in Kansas City.
Greinke is 27 with a reasonable two years at $27 million left on his contract. He won the AL Cy Young in 2009, and over the past three years has a 39-32 record with a 3.25 ERA.
The Yanks apparently were willing to include Montero to get Greinke, just as they were to land Roy Halladay after the 2009 season and Cliff Lee midway through the 2010 campaign. The Yanks claim they believe in Montero’s ability to catch and be an impact bat for them. But all signs are they will sacrifice him in exchange for an ace-level starter.
The Yanks believed they were going to fill that need by simply buying Lee in free agency. But he surprisingly decided to sign with Philadelphia.
Thus, the Yanks are left with Sabathia coming off of minor knee surgery to head a rotation full of worries. They still don’t know if Andy Pettitte will return rather than retire. A.J. Burnett is an enigma coming off a poor season. At this moment, Phil Hughes would enter his second full season in the rotation as the No. 2 starter.
What the Royals gave up for Greinke — shortstop Yuniesky Betancourt and cash — reflects the asking price to the Yankees. Kansas City received two middle-of-the-diamond youngsters — shortstop Alcides Escobar and center fielder Lorenzo Cain — plus two pitching prospects, Jake Odorizzi and Jeremy Jeffress.
Odorizzi will join Banuelos and Betances as among the most-prized pitching prospects in the minors.