CINCINNATI – The July 31 nonwaiver Trade Deadline is more than a month away, and teams are probably weeks away from making the first significant swaps, but the Zack Greinke trade rumors are already starting to fly.

FoxSports.com on Tuesday spoke to two rival executives who expect the Brewers to trade Greinke, a free agent-to-be, if they cannot sign him to a long-term contract by the deadline.

The Brewers were in direct talks with Greinke about an extension, but those discussions cooled when Matt Cain signed a $127.5 million extension with the Giants on the same day Greinke re-hired agent Casey Close. Since then, Melvin has not discussed publicly any negotiations, if any exist.

“We’ve got to make a decision on what we’re doing overall,” Melvin told FoxSports.com. “We’re hoping we can put a good week together. If we don’t, we’ve got to be prepared to go both ways. A lot more clubs are starting to call now. Clubs are calling on different players.”

Speaking specifically about the prospect of trading Greinke, Melvin told the website, “I haven’t sat down with ownership. I haven’t talked to any club yet to say, ‘Give names.’ I haven’t had that conversation.”

Greinke is 8-2 with a 2.81 ERA in 15 starts, including a no-decision against the White Sox on Friday in which he pitched nine scoreless innings. Greinke will start again on Wednesday against the Reds.

Keep an eye on the Brewers as the Trade Deadline nears. They entered Tuesday 7 1/2 games behind the National League Central-leading Reds and have some interesting potential pieces to move. Besides Greinke, due to hit the market are starter Shaun Marcum and reliever Francisco Rodriguez, plus starter Randy Wolf if the Brewers decline his $10 million option.

– Adam McCalvy