[alnorth]

interesting report from Jason Stark. (in his "winners and losers" section)

3. Kansas City Royals

OK, we admit this is a premature "winners" award, because the Royals haven't actually traded Zack Greinke yet. But this week's developments put them in a better position to pull off this monster deal than they've been in at any time this winter.

On their way out of Disney World on Thursday, officials of two different teams delivered the same message: When they arrived at these meetings, they thought there was no way the Royals would trade their ace this winter. By the time they spun out the revolving door, they'd changed their minds -- and predicted it was now even "likely."

The price never changed all week. It's still going to take what one NL exec described as "five premium pieces" to make this deal happen. But the Royals were smartly treading water this week, waiting for Lee to sign. And once that happened, they knew, Greinke would represent the only difference-making starter out there for teams such as the Rangers, Nationals, Blue Jays, Marlins and others to explore.

Meanwhile, teams that spoke with the Royals believe that they're now more motivated to trade him because they recognize this is the time to strike -- when there's no real competition on the market -- and the reality has finally hit them that Greinke clearly wants out. "What can they tell him to keep him motivated -- that 'We'll be good in 2014?'" one AL exec said. "That's not going to fly. So now's the time, and I think they know it."