Milwaukee Brewers - TeamReport - Chicago Tribune

MLB Team Report - Milwaukee Brewers - INSIDE PITCH

Sometimes, players and ballclubs decide not to negotiate contract extensions after Opening Day. Brewers general manager Doug Melvin said that would not be the case with right-hander Zack Greinke.

Melvin said he spoke Thursday with Greinke's new agent, Casey Close, and planned to talk again on Monday. The Brewers are trying to work out an extension with Greinke, who can be a free agent after the season.

"Sometimes players say they want to focus on the season and that's fine," Melvin said. "I respect that. But that doesn't mean the GM and the agent won't talk behind the scenes. We want him to go out and have a big year."

With the Brewers' payroll at $100 million for the first time in club history, the Brewers might have to get creative to work out a deal with Greinke.

The bar was raised recently when right-hander Matt Cain of the San Francisco Giants signed a five-year, $112.5 million extension.

"We'll take a look at it," Melvin said. "That all comes into play. You look at your payroll. I know there's been some big signings here lately. One thing you have to be careful with, that I think we manage very well is you've got to look at where the money is in the first year of contracts, and where it is three, four years from now.

"There's been some big seven-, eight-, nine-year contracts. I think what you have to do is see, does the excitement in the early years of the contract outweigh the agony at the end of the contract? You have to weigh that when you're talking about seven-, eight-, nine-year contracts.

"I've talked to other general managers that have done those, and there's a lot of excitement when you do them early, but a lot of pain and agony at the end of them with a lot of them. So you have to see what your system can handle."

Only time will tell if an extension can be worked out with Greinke, but team owner Mark Attanasio said the deals of Melvin and manager Ron Roenicke will be lengthened at some point. Both are on the final year of their contracts.

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MLB Team Report - Milwaukee Brewers - NOTES, QUOTES

--RHP Yovani Gallardo didn't have any more luck on opening day against the Cardinals than he has in the past. Gallardo entered the game 1-7 with a 5.66 ERA in 11 career starts against them and was pounded for seven hits, including four home runs, and six runs with five walks in 3 2/3 innings. He's 1-8 with a 6.17 ERA in 12 outings against the Cardinals.

--INF Brooks Conrad, the last player cut by the Brewers during spring training, opened the season on the seven-day disabled list with Class AAA Nashville. Conrad jammed his shoulder diving into a base in the Brewers' final exhibition game Wednesday in Phoenix.

--RHP Taylor Jungmann, one of Brewers' two first-round draft picks in 2011, made his professional debut in the opener for Class A Brevard County and picked up his first victory. Jungman went five innings, allowing four hits and one run while striking out three.

--INF Norichiki Aoki, a three-time batting champion in Japan, made his major-league debut in the fifth inning as a pinch-hitter with runners on the corners and none out. Aoki struck out swinging against St. Louis LHP Jaime Garcia.

--C George Kottaras delivered the first pinch-hit home run of his career, a three-run blast in the ninth off St. Louis RHP Kyle McClellan. Unfortunately for the Brewers, they were trailing, 11-2, at the time and it did nothing to change the outcome of the opener.

BY THE NUMBERS: 0 -- Victories by the Brewers in their last four season openers.

QUOTE TO NOTE: "It's somewhat opportunity driven. If we think the team can compete, we're going to spend the money." -- Brewers' owner Mark Attanasio, on the club reaching a $100-million payroll for the first time.