1:10pm: Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel clarifies: the Brewers agreed to check back in with Marcum's agent, but extension talks have not begun (Twitter link).
12:59pm: The Brewers have had preliminary extension talks with new acquisition Shaun Marcum, tweets Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports. The righty is clearly open to the idea, since he was also discussing the possibility with the Blue Jays. But it's interesting to hear the Brewers having talks before Marcum even throws a pitch for them.
Historically, young pitcher extensions have been signed in January, February, or March. Marcum is already under team control through 2012 as an arbitration eligible player. He shouldn't earn a ton in 2011, partially because he's only operating from an $850K salary.