PHOENIX – Zack Greinke still doesn't have an agent, but hasn't ruled out listening should the Milwaukee Brewers express a desire to discuss a possible contract extension.
Greinke, the Brewers' 28-year-old ace pitcher, is due to make $13.5 million this season in the final season of a four-year, $38 million extension he signed with Kansas City before the 2009 season. He said Thursday following a Cactus League start against Cincinnati that he doesn't plan to hire one before the end of the season.
With only the Brewers able to discuss a new deal until the offseason, Greinke hasn't felt the need to find a replacement since parting ways with CAA late last year.
Many, though, have tried to offer their services or speak on the behalf of Greinke. A former teammate recently called, and Greinke knew right away he was seeking to represent the pitcher.
"I knew what he wanted, so I didn’t call back the first time," Greinke said. "Then he called a second time, so I said, 'All right, I’ll answer it.' I knew what he wanted, but we spent 20 minutes beating around the bush, talking nonsense, which with him I don’t mind it so much, but that’s the annoying part. I knew what we were getting to. It just took forever to get to it."
Even without an agent, Greinke is well aware of how the market might play out. Should he become a free agent, he is likely to become one of the most sought after pitchers available.
He went 16-6 a year ago, his first in Milwaukee, posting a 3.83 ERA in 28 starts. Greinke struck out 201 and walked just 45 in 171 2/3 innings of work. For his career, he's 76-73 with a 3.82 ERA and 1,132 strikeouts.
Numbers like that can command a pretty hefty deal. In recent years, pitchers of Greinke's ilk have signed five-year contracts between $75 million and $80 million.
Greinke has been paying attention.
"I know all that stuff," Greinke said. "At least I think I do, especially with pitchers."
Milwaukee is a comfortable place for Greinke, who joined the team in a blockbuster trade in December 2010. The 2009 Cy Young Award winner came to Milwaukee in a deal that sent some of the organization's best prospects to Kansas City.
"I'm very comfortable here," Greinke said. "I've said the organization is amazing. It really is. I'm sure there are other good ones, but it can't be much better than this, especially with the front office. I think our owner is the best out there."
Manager Ron Roenicke gets the vibe that Greinke, who keeps to himself for the most part, has assimilated well into the Brewers' clubhouse and has found some peace with the organization.
"I think he really likes where he is," Roenicke said. "I think he really likes the guys on this club that he deals with. ... It makes a big difference to Zack. I think he's real comfortable with working with Rick, and when you're comfortable with your pitching coach – he's telling you stuff and it seems to be working – then yeah, I think he's going to be happy."
Whether that translates into a long-term deal for one of the game's best pitchers remains to be seen. As happy as he is in Milwaukee, Greinke admits he's looking forward to becoming a free agent for the first time in his eight-year career.
"I think it would be kind of neat," Greinke said. "There could be positives to it, and there could end up being negatives. It’s not like everyone who gets to free agency (that) it ends up working perfectly for them and everything comes true that they want."
"Sometimes it ends up backfiring on you and you would have been better off signing with your team. A lot of times, when you get all 30 teams fighting for you, you should be in a pretty good situation. It has happened where it doesn’t work out for people."
