The Marth might yell at us because Zack Greinke is set to make $13.5 million each of the next two seasons, but in the Twins' quest to find a potential ace we are intrigued by the 2009 Cy Young Award winner. Greinke is the subject of trade rumors, and the Royals might be enticed by a deal this offseason. From Fox Sports:

His contract with the Kansas City Royals includes a no-trade clause – but only through the end of next season.

The contract itself won't expire until after the 2012 season. But Greinke will lose his leverage in trade talks as soon as the non-waiver deadline passes on July 31, 2011.

Here are the details of Greinke's contract, according to multiple major-league sources:

-- During the 2009 and 2010 seasons, Greinke was able to block trades to 20 teams.

-- In 2011, that protection drops to 15 teams.

-- This year, the clause would have permitted the Royals to trade him to mostly small-market teams, including the Tampa Bay Rays. Greinke could have blocked deals to the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox, among other big-market teams.

So you're saying this is a guy with ace stuff, still young, and who might be more amenable to and available in a trade to a small-market team instead of a large-market team? That sounds nice.

Again, there is the matter of finding $13.5 million, which is not found in a shoe. And there is a question of Greinke's consistency. But still: he's enticing, no?