Though Friday’s reported Zack Greinke deal with the D-backs may have been an unexpected one, it’s certainly not the first time that a small-market team has made a substantial splash in free agency.

Like the rest of the baseball world, D-backs players were stunned Friday night when the news broke about the signing of Zack Greinke to a six-year, $206.5 million contract.

Go ahead, Johnny Cueto. You can crack one more smile, buddy.
Your turbulent year is going to end with both a World Series ring and, it appears, a very rich contract. Nice move turning down that Diamondbacks’ deal, if they really did offer you a reported $120 million over six years.

Zack Greinke makes the Diamondbacks better on so many levels, we could spend days counting them all. So let’s begin with the obvious. He’s the embodiment of a No. 1 starter and exactly what this franchise needs.

The Reds’ annual winter festival is typically well-attended every year by all involved — Reds fans, who pack the Duke Energy Convention Center for the two-day party, and the current and former Reds players who make Redsfest participation a priority every winter.

Reds center fielder Billy Hamilton received the green light on Friday that he was hoping for. Hamilton, who had arthroscopic surgery on his right shoulder in September, was cleared to begin baseball activities. Also on the mend nicely is Reds starting pitcher Homer Bailey, who had Tommy John surgery in May to repair a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow.

The Giants’ fruitless effort to sign free agent Zack Greinke, who’s bound for the Arizona Diamondbacks, shouldn’t immobilize them. Rather, it should strengthen their resolve to secure one or even two starters from the next tier of available free agents.

It looks like Darren O’Day could be staying in the Beltway. According to a baseball source, the Nationals and Orioles are in the lead for the services of the veteran reliever.

With less than 72 hours until the start of the Winter Meetings, the D-backs shocked the baseball world Friday night, reportedly winning a bidding war for prized pitcher Zack Greinke in a blockbuster move that is sure to shake up the Hot Stove. The D-backs are still rumored to be in the market for another starting pitcher, so things aren’t cooling off just yet. Here’s a look at some of the latest rumors floating around the big leagues Friday night:

The Reds are a team in transition, as they’ve made it clear they are willing to move veteran players in order to get younger and better for the long-term. One player who should be around to see the rebuilding through to its conclusion is first baseman Joey Votto.

In a stunning turn of events, the D-backs were the winners of the Zack Greinke Sweepstakes on Friday night, agreeing to a six-year deal with the right-hander, according to multiple sources.

Right fielder Jay Bruce and third baseman Todd Frazier have been the subject of trade rumors this offseason. Both said on Friday at Redsfest that they hope to remain with Cincinnati, but they understand that this is business.

Todd Frazier’s trophy case is filling up fast in 2015. After bringing a Home Run Derby title to Cincinnati in July, Frazier took the podium Friday night at Redsfest to accept the club’s annual Joe Nuxhall Good Guy Award.

After somehow getting outbid by the D-backs for Zack Greinke, the Dodgers have a gaping hole in their starting rotation and no obvious way to adequately fill it.

David Price continued a recent trend when he agreed to a record-breaking seven-year, $217 million deal with the Red Sox. Zack Greinke’s pending six-year, $206.5 million pact with the D-backs also cracks the top five.

Arizona’s stunning move to sign Zack Greinke doesn’t make the Diamondbacks the slam-dunk favorites in the NL West, but it absolutely makes them contenders. For a team with one winning season in seven years, that’s a big deal.

It is time to get serious about the free-agent market, where the real depth in talent is in the outfield. This is a free-agent class ripe for a team with payroll space that wants to add an impact player to the everyday lineup.