After a rough road trip seemingly knocked the Milwaukee Brewers out of contention, general manager Doug Melvin acknowledges that the team is fielding trade inquiries for ace pitcher Zack Greinke.

"I think people know that," Melvin said Thursday.

Melvin confirmed Greinke's availability in comments to USA Today and Milwaukee's WTMJ radio earlier Thursday.

Melvin did not go into detail on how many teams have expressed interest in the 2009 AL Cy Young Award winner, saying only that the trade market always heats up with the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline approaching.

"I'm very fond of him," Melvin told USA Today. "He's one of my favorite players I ever had. Really, he's been like a son to me. I enjoyed talking baseball with him. He's very passionate. He follows the game. It's been a great experience having him for a year and a half.

"There are so many good things about him, it's going to be difficult when we trade him."

Greinke is scheduled to pitch Sunday's game against Washington at Miller Park, but Nationals manager Davey Johnson said he'd be surprised if that happens.

"I'd be real surprised," Johnson said. "If a ballclub's intent on making a move, they're not going to pitch him two days before the deadline. That's probably why they've got eight pitchers in the bullpen. I'm surprised he's still here."

Despite losing Prince Fielder to free agency in the offseason, the Brewers expected to be contenders in the NL Central again this season. Instead, they enter Thursday night's game against the Nationals 9½ games behind the division-leading Cincinnati Reds.