Casey Close of Excel Sports Management will represent Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Zack Greinke. The right-hander will be a free agent after the 2012 season.

Greinke, 28, dropped his representation last December and it seemed the Brewers would have to wait until he found a new agent before working out a long term deal. But Greinke said he was open to signing a contract without an agent, essentially representing himself. It appears he's abandoning that plan, going a more traditional rout with Excel Sports Management.

Greinke's new contract will most likely be modeled after the extension Matt Cain signed with the Giants yesterday. The two pitchers have had eerily similar careers, with Greinke posting a 3.37 ERA in 823 innings pitched to Cain's 3.17 ERA in 880 innings. With the Cain contract now the standard for upcoming free agent ace pitchers, Greinke quickly signed with Casey Close and is in line for a deal in the $110-$130MM range. Grienke went 16-6 last year in his first year with the Brewers, posting a 3.83 ERA and an amazing 10.5 K/BB ratio.