By OnMilwaukee Staff Writers   Published Dec 19, 2010 at 1:45 PM

Roughly two and a half years ago, Brewers general manager Doug Melvin met with the local media after trading for CC Sabathia and said, matter-of-factly that the Brewers were "going for it."

Now, after parting with the best young prospects the organization had, it looks like Melvin and the Brewers are going for it again, completing a trade for former Cy Young Award winner Zack Greinke.

OnMilwaukee.com first confirmed the story last night after a report surfaced that the two teams were close to a deal.

In addition to Greinke, the Brewers also receive shortstop Yuniesky Betancourt and cash considerations but obviously, Greinke is the focal point of the deal.

In 2009, Greinke emerged as one of the best young pitchers in the game, posting a 16-8 record and 2.16 earned run average, striking out 242 batters in 229.1 innings.

The 27-year-old right-hander struggled at times last season, posting a 10-14 record with a 4.17 ERA in 33 starts but he pitched into the eighth inning 10 times, including three complete games.

"Zack Greinke is one of the top young pitchers in the game today. We are very excited to add him to our new rotation," Melvin said in a release issued Sunday by the Brewers.

"Zack brings great physical skills and athleticism to the team and is an outstanding competitor. This trade is a credit to our scouting and player development staff as their hard work and judgment provided us the talented prospects that Kansas City will be receiving. I also appreciate the support of ownership in making this deal."

In exchange for Greinke and Betancourt, the Brewers sent centerfielder Lorenzo Cain, projected to be the Opening Day starter after an impressive showing late in 2010, shortstop Alcides Escobar and pitching prospects Jake Odorizzi and Jeremy Jeffress.

Adding  Grienke to the fold was a bold step for Melvin, who has taken more than his fair share of criticism for pairing one of baseball's most formidable offenses with one of the game's worst pitching staffs.

The last two years, Milwaukee finished near the top in most offensive categories but thanks to a pitching staff with an ERA of around 4.50, the Brewers failed to maintain their winning ways after clinching the National League Wild Card in 2008.

Melvin is obviously no longer concerned about moving Prince Fielder before he becomes a free agent after this season, instead focusing on restocking the depleted farm system with a pair of protected top-15 picks this year and the bonus picks that will come after Fielder hits the free agent market.

With Greinke and Shaun Marcum, acquired from Toronto just before the Winter Meetings, anchoring a rotation that also includes Yovani Gallardo and Randy Wolf (and probably, Chris Narveson), Melvin thinks the team has the pieces in place to make a run for the post-season.

The moves, though, didn't come cheap. Melvin has had to part with some of the franchise's best young talent, including top prospect Brett Lawrie, who went to Toronto in the Marcum deal.

The Brewers will pay Greinke $27 million over the next two seasons. He signed a four-year extension with Kansas City in January 2009.