Greinke to hold off opt-out decision until end of season

GLENDALE, Ariz. -- Dodgers pitcher Zack Greinke said he won't decide whether to exercise the opt-out clause in his contract until the end of the season.

On report day for pitchers and catchers, Greinke said there is no reason to make the decision any sooner, as clubs rarely exercise options on players until the season ends.

Greinke, 31, signed a six-year, $147 million contract before the 2013 season, but he can void the deal after this season and re-enter the free-agent market. He said he is open to negotiating with the club, "and I'm sure they're open to me taking a cheap deal."

Greinke had the opt-out included because "it's all to your benefit. If things are going good, you can use it for more power. There's no negative to it."

Greinke's deal has an average annual salary of $24.5 million. Max Scherzer, who signed the biggest contract this past offseason with the Nationals, has an average salary of $30 million.

Greinke repeated that he has enjoyed his Los Angeles experience so far, but learned from signing a long-term deal with Kansas City -- a move he later regretted -- that front offices can change direction over the course of a player contract, "and my plan was to never let that happen again.

"I probably talk more than I should and more than most people," Greinke said. "Most people come to work and their boss tells them what to do. I want to know why they want me to lift and stretch. Most just say, 'OK.'

"I know you can't really trust the front office and what they tell you. Guys have signed long deals and get traded the next year. It happens all the time. Teams do what's best for them and you can't fault them, but you can't trust them to do what's best for you. Their job is to do what's best for the team."