Angels have yet to start extension talks with Greinke

Los Angeles Angels general manager Jerry Dipoto paid a fairly steep price to acquire Zack Greinke from the Milwaukee Brewers last week. The Angels sent their top position prospect, infielder Jean Segura, and two more top-10 prospects (right-handers Johnny Hellweg and Ariel Pena) to the Brewers for the 2009 AL Cy Young Award winner.

That price will only look steeper if the Angels do not sign Greinke beyond this season. The potential free agent is making $13.5 million in the final year of a four-year, $38 million contract he signed with the Royals, and he has already turned down an extension offer of five years and over $100 million from the Brewers.

Dipoto said he has yet to have any discussions with Greinke or his agent, Casey Close, about a contract extension and doesn't intend to anytime soon.

"Like I've said before, we'll cross that bridge when we come to it. The bridge didn't start yet," Dipoto said. "I'm sure it's something we'd like to explore at some point. I'm sure it's something that Zack will find out if he'd like to explore."

Re-signing Greinke could be problematic for the Angels and their payroll. Their acknowledged ace, Jered Weaver, agreed to a below-market, five-year, $85 million contract extension with the Angels last summer against the advice of his agent, Scott Boras. Any discussions with Greinke will likely have to start in a much higher range -- closer to the six-year, $127.5 million deal San Francisco Giants right-hander Matt Cain got earlier this year or the six-year, $144 million deal the Philadelphia Phillies gave lefty Cole Hamels last month.

"I'm just focusing on playing and winning as many games as possible. That's all that's going on in my mind right now," Greinke said before his first start with the Angels last weekend.

Dipoto certainly sounded like a GM making a sales pitch when he talked about the chances of Greinke liking what he sees over the next two months and wanting to stay with the Angels.

"I don't know that there's a whole lot not to like about our present situation," Dipoto said. "It's a good ballclub. It's a good ballpark. It's a great part of the country. The weather is fantastic. It's a terrific fan base. From the owner on down, it's a quality organization.

"That being said, there are no promises. There are no expectations. Our expectations are for Zack to go and take his start and do that every fifth day."