Per Jim Bowedens Twitter account.

"@JimBowdenESPNxm: A source has told me that Greinke was blown away by Nolan Ryan and Rangers Front Office..loves the ML team, prospects and chances to Win WS"

Whether he signs here or not it is nice to have the owner's and FO we have running our beloved Rangers.

Yes, but he hasn't signed a 6y@ $155mm(?), so sources say.
Both LA teams are minimum 20% away, due to Taxes.
You do the figures... somewhere @ $180+ etc.?
Blown away? Why hasn't he signed as a Ranger?

According to Bowden on his radio show today, Greinke is primarily motivated by going to the place that gives him the best chance to win a WS. He thinks it's Texas, but Texas with either a Hamilton or Upton. So, he won't sign until either Hamilton is signed or Upton is traded for. Bowden admits this is speculation on his part.

I'm reminded of the Lee negotiations. We appear to be ahead over a better financed club, but we wait as nothing is announced. Third Party emerges and snatches him away. Could Detroit be waiting in the wings?

@MT_Ranger_Fan:

Not if they want to keep Verlander. They can't afford both.

Greinke could also be bluffing in order to get the Dodgers or Angels to raise their offer. If Greinke wants to leave no $ on the table, the best thing for him to do is proceed slowly and tell the big market teams that he thinks Texas is a better organization so they're going to have to raise the ante and blow Texas's offer away. If Greinke really wanted to be in Texas, the deal could be done by now. I'm not saying that Greinke is definitely bluffing, but he very well could be. I put no faith in rumors like these.

We know that Texas is capable of putting a big offer on the table. Texas has the # 5 market. The ? is whether Texas can put together the TOP offer. That's the only one that counts. Greinke may give Texas a slight discount. But I can't imagine he'll accept tens of millions less. Why would he? His ERA in Texas will probably be .5 runs higher than it would be in Anaheim.

...he won't sign until either Hamilton is signed or Upton is traded for.
If this is true then my gut tells me everything is being held up by MY. They don't want to lose Andrus with Wash as the manager and MY still on the roster because we all know who will be making regular appearances in SS. So once MY is traded, the rest of the chips will fall, Andrus to AZ for Upton, Greinke signed, and hopefully one of Shields or Hamilton.

@Rfan

I'm not disputing your analysis but merely pointing out raw numbers.

Greinke @ Angels stadium:

10 G
2.78 ERA
1.04 WHIP
.235 BAA

@RBiA

7 G
2.83 ERA
1.04 WHIP
.236

SSS and all plus I don't have the advanced metrics but I'm fairly confident he may be able to keep his career performance numbers within a reasonable range in both ballparks. I'm sure he's also aware that Texas' infield defense will probably cater better to his increasing GB tendencies from 2010-2012 (especially since he's implemented a cutter).

I feel like Greinke will sign within the next 72 hours and based off of various signals and the way this entire process has played out (his hesitation with the Dodgers despite their apparent abundance of $$$).
Once accomplished I would like to see Texas expand the rumored MY to Philly trade to say MY, Holland, Perez and say Ramirez for Lee and Bastardo. Texas would have a rotation of Darvish, Lee, Greinke, Harrison, and Ogando and solidify their bullpen with a lefty and likely ending their pitching pursuit this offseason with Feliz, Soria, and Lewis coming midseason to join Nathan, Bastardo, Ross, Scheppers, Font, and Kirkman - all with increasing payroll roughly 5 million. The Phillies get their answer at 3rd as well as a lefty locked up relatively cheap for his prime as well as a young cheap high ceiling lefty and a young fireball righty reliever to replace the young pitching they lost in the Revere trade as well as to get out from Lee's monster deal with 2 aces already on the roster.
On the offensive side a swap of Olt and Grimm later in the offseason should be sufficient for Arencibia thereby solving the catching situation.
Now I'm all for the ownership deciding to break the bank for Hamilton at four years and no more than 110 million but if they don't than I'm fine with a Cruz/Murphy/Gentry/Martin and spring training standout in the outfield, but if they do bring him back than either Cruz or Murphy must be move for payroll reasons.
Regardless if the signing goes through, I would not like to see an Elvis for Upton deal. An infield with Beltre, Elvis at SS, Profar at 2B and Kinsler at 1st would be good to allow the rookie to get his feet wet while still having both Kinsler and Andrus their for security and Moreland to step in at 1B (with no hamilton he will primarily DH and have to learn some outfield). If we slip-up in 2013 than we can afford to do a Upton Elvis swap if AZ hasn't already moved him as we'll have security of a full year of Major league middle infield work under his belt (plus i think 1 year of Elvis for 2 years of Upton is a closer package in value than a 2012 iteration).
2012 Lineup:
Andrus, Profar, Hamilton, Beltre, Cruz, Kinsler, Murphy, Arencibia/Soto, Gentry/Martin

I think Greinke's numbers will inflate starting 15-18 games in Arlington, but it beats a starter like Martin Perez getting innings. If the Rangers can include Perez in a deal this offseason, I think now's the time.

I'm predicting his ERA stays within .5 of his ERA at Angels stadium.

@ Eric

Is that really inevitable? Greinke's career record at TBIA:

7 appearances, 2.83 ERA, 1.040 WHIP, 5.83 SO/BB, etc.

And if someone like Kevin Millwood can pitch well at TBIA, e.g. in 2009 - 3.17 home ERA vs. 4.15 away, a more talented guy like Greinke surely can.

The Dodgers appear to be close to signing Zack Greinke, reports Tim Brown of Yahoo! Sports (on Twitter). There is still ground to be covered, but Los Angeles is out in front for the right-hander's services at the moment.