Here’s what Kansas City Royals GM J.J. Picollo said on chances of trading Zack Greinke

With two weeks remaining before the MLB trade deadline, the Kansas City Royals remain one of the likely “sellers” on the market with multiple veteran players who figure to be of interest to contending teams while the Royals sit 20 games under .500 at the All-Star break.

One veteran who doesn’t appear likely to move at this point is former Cy Young Award winner Zack Greinke.

Royals general manager J.J. Picollo indicated during an interview with 610 Sports Radio’s “Cody & Gold” show that Greinke was an unlikely trade candidate, though Picollo did not completely rule out the possibility.

Asked if the Royals had an agreement not to trade Greinke, Picollo said, “No. There’s nothing contractually. We’ll treat Zack Greinke the exact same way we’ll treat any other player. If the return is a good return, then we’ll look at it.”

Greinke signed a one-year, $13 million contract to return to his original franchise during spring training.

He hadn’t played for the Royals since 2010 when the Royals front office, led by current president of baseball operations Dayton Moore, traded Greinke to the Milwaukee Brewers in the deal that brought both center fielder Lorenzo Cain and shortstop Alcides Escobar to Kansas City. Cain and Escobar were centerpieces of the franchise’s back-to-back World Series.

Greinke, in his 19th season in the majors, turned down other suitors in order to sign with the Royals because of the familiarity with the franchise, fan base and the front office as well as his feeling that he could have an influence on the development of the club’s bevy of young pitchers.

This season, Greinke is 3-6 with a 4.64 ERA, a 1.33 WHIP, a .285 opponent’s batting average, 42 strikeouts and 15 walks in 15 starts (77 2/3 innings).

“We know Zack is happy here,” Picollo said. “He chose Kansas City for a reason. When a player has that many years in the league, we’re respectful of that. So we would have discussions with Zack if anything were to come forward. At this point, it has been pretty quiet there. Unless somebody redirects and starts asking us about Zack, it’s really a non-factor right now.”

Picollo said the vaccination status of players who are potential trade candidates has not been an issue in their discussions with other teams.

The Royals had 10 players who did not make this past weekend’s trip to Toronto because of Canadian travel restrictions that require persons entering the country to show proof of vaccination.

That group included potential trade candidates who’ve been rumored to have drawn interest such as All-Star left Andrew Benintendi, two-time All-Star infielder/outfielder Whit Merrifield and Gold Glove-winning center fielder Michael A. Taylor.

“The clubs we’ve been talking haven’t even brought it up, so I know it’s not a concern of theirs,” Picollo said.