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Phoenix - I just spoke with Brewers general manager Doug Melvin to get his take on comments made Monday by right-hander Zack Greinke about not having an agent.

"I'm not going to have an agent for awhile," said Greinke. "There's no reason to have one at the moment."

Some folks took that to mean that Greinke had no interest in a contract extension and wouldn't need an agent until he hits free agency after the season. Melvin didn't see it that way, however.

"I wouldn't read anything into the agent thing," said Melvin. "I think he may end up doing a lot of this himself. Then, if it gets to a serious nature, he might get somebody to help."

So, Melvin said that wouldn't stop him from approaching Greinke about an extension at some point this spring. He said he first had to talk with owner Mark Attanasio, who will be in camp this weekend, to see what he wants to do and how the budget might accomodate a deal for Greinke, who is making $13.5 million this year.

"I've got to sit down with Mark and look at what we want to do on any contracts," said Melvin. "I've talked to Zack but we haven't talked about a contract."

The common line of thinking is that the Brewers gave up so much in the trade for Greinke, including shortstop Alcides Escobar and pitchers Jeremy Jeffress and Jake Odorizzi, that they wouldn't want to lose him after two years. He's also in the prime of his career at age 28.

"We did that to win last year and win this year," said Melvin. "There's pitchers (who will be free agents this fall) like Zack out there. You have (Cole) Hamels and (Matt) Cain. Those are probably the top guys. You have (Tim) Lincecum the next year.

"You have pitchers such as Jered Weaver and (Justin) Verlander who have signed. So, you have ceilings to the top guys. C.J. Wilson signed after two good years. Felix Hernandez has signed. So, there's enough contracts out there to zero in fairly quickly."

Those contracts indeed provide close parameters to use for Greinke, should the Brewers decide to make their move. Verlander signed in 2010 for $80 million over five years and Hernandez signed that year for $78 million over five years. Weaver signed with the Angels last year for $85 million over five years; and Wilson signed with them over the winter as a free agent for $77.5 million.

Right-hander Shaun Marcum also is a free agent after the season and has said he wants to stay in Milwaukee. The Brewers traded their top prospect, Brett Lawrie, for Marcum but Melvin said it's too early to tell if the club would be able to keep both pitchers.

"It's too early to know that," he said. "We haven't really sat down and discussed that. We wanted to wait until all the arbitration cases were done and the free agency things were done. There are some teams talking about some extensions. I heard the Giants might be talking to Cain and the Phillies might be talking to Hamels.

"Sometimes, it can happen quick; you make a few offers. If they don't, you want them to focus on the year."

In other words, look for the Brewers to make their move on Greinke before opening day. If no progress is made by then, talks probably will be tabled until after the season.