Major League Baseball

Greinke not sure he wants to be in K.C.

Published Aug. 5, 2010 1:00 a.m. ET

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Zack Greinke says he does not necessarily want out of Kansas City. But the 2009 AL Cy Young Award winner said he doesn't expect the Royals to be ready to compete for a pennant by 2012, when his contract runs out.

''It depends more on the team now,'' Greinke said in an interview with the Kansas City Star. ''We'll see. This is at least the third full restart/rebuilding phase since I've been here. And, obviously, none of them have worked. This one hasn't even really started yet.''

The Royals have several top-flight prospects working their way through the minor leagues, including heavy-hitting infielders Mike Moustakas and Eric Hosmer. The Royals have been pointing to 2012 as to when they will begin to compete for a playoff berth that has eluded Kansas City since winning the 1985 World Series.

Greinke, who is 7-10 this season with a 3.97 ERA, said most players don't hit their stride for several years, and he's not sure he wants to endure another rebuilding movement.

''Very rarely do guys come straight into the big leagues and make an impact, especially hitters,'' he said. ''Just look at the top prospects in baseball. Delmon Young was one five years ago, and he's finally starting to play well. Alex Gordon was one four years ago, and he might be starting to play well now. So the problem is that it's not like as soon as they get here that it's going to be instant (success). Maybe by 2014.

''There's no reason for me to get real excited about it,'' Greinke said. ''Because the chance of more than one of them making a major impact by the time my contract is up is pretty slim.''

The Royals (46-62) were in Seattle for a weekend series.

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