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According to Dan Connolly of the Baltimore Sun, the Baltimore Orioles are in pursuit of Brewers ace Zack Greinke. Connolly reports that the Orioles are currently rumored to be Greinke's "most aggressive suitor.
Greinke, 28, is earning $13.5M this season, and is set to hit free agency this winter. The right-hander has a 136 ERA+ in 108 innings thus far.
Jerry Crasnick of ESPN echoes Connolly's reports, adding that southpaw Brian Matusz could potentially be a trade chip for Baltimore.
I'm hearing the same Zack Greinke rumors that @danconnollysun reported today. #Orioles have Greinke on their radar.
— Jerry Crasnick (@jcrasnick) July 6, 2012
Brian Matusz is one possible chip in a deal. #Orioles are down on him. #Brewers need to decide if scenery change could help him.
— Jerry Crasnick (@jcrasnick) July 6, 2012
The Orioles are not willing to trade Dylan Bundy or Manny Machado in a deal to acquire Greinke, so Matusz would seem to make a lot of sense in trade talks.
Some rival evaluators have wondered if the Orioles would part with Brian Matusz to get Zack Greinke, since they won't do Machado or Bundy.
— Buster Olney (@Buster_ESPN) July 6, 2012