Rumor roundup: Greinke eyeing $35M AAV?

With front offices around baseball getting set to pack their bags for next week's Winter Meetings in Nashville, Tenn., the rumor mill is in full swing. Here are a few of the Hot Stove items people in baseball are talking about:

Greinke could set annual salary record
As soon as David Price agreed to his seven-year, $217 million deal with the Red Sox, many wondered what fellow ace Zack Greinke could earn as a free agent. The New York Daily News' Mark Feinsand seems to have an answer: six years for $210 million, averaging $35 million per year.

Tweet from @FeinsandNYDN: One major-league executive said he's hearing the Dodgers may give Zack Greinke six years for $210 million, which would be $35 mil per year.

• Hot Stove Tracker

Price's average annual salary of $31 million a year ties him with Miguel Cabrera for the highest in baseball, regardless of position. The overall figure for Greinke ($210 million) would be less than Price's contract, but it would also come with a year less of term. Price's is the largest contract ever awarded to a pitcher, narrowly edging out the $215 million extension Clayton Kershaw signed with the Dodgers, and the $210 million pact Max Scherzer signed with the Nationals.

Big bait needed to land Shark
With a deal like Price's on the table (and perhaps one coming Greinke's way), Jeff Samardzija's reported $100 million contract offer looks less daunting, but he'll be far from the free-agent bargain that some were expecting the right-hander to be.

Tweet from @jaysonst: Forget the theory that Jeff Samardzija will be the bargain of the offseason. Teams talking with him say he's claiming to have $100M on table

Astros in on Giles
The Astros, who are on the lookout for some bullpen help, have reportedly inquired about the availability of Phillies right-hander Ken Giles.

ESPN.com's Jerry Crasnick said the two sides "recently discussed" a deal, with the Phillies bringing up Lance McCullers and Vincent Velasquez as potential return pieces.

Zobrist and Fowler on Mets' radar
While the Mets' top priority continues to be utility man Ben Zobrist -- and ESPN.com's Buster Olney reported as much Wednesday afternoon -- they are also looking at Dexter Fowler as an outfield possibility, Olney reported.

Video: MLB Tonight discusses the market for Ben Zobrist

Fowler, 29, was extended a qualifying offer from the Cubs this offseason. In 156 games with Chicago in 2015, he hit .250 with 17 home runs, 46 RBIs, eight triples, 29 doubles and 20 stolen bases.