He’s a right-handed starter. He’s 27 years old. He pitches in the American League Central. He has garnered a lot of recent interest on the trade market.

Zack Greinke?

Nope.

Fausto Carmona.

Greinke, of course, is The Name among starters on the trade market right now. But sources indicated to FOXSports.com today that it’s possible even more teams have asked the Cleveland Indians about Carmona.

If, for example, the Yankees are unsure of Greinke’s desire to pitch in New York, then Carmona could become a very appealing option.

Similarly, the Texas Rangers could turn to Carmona if they are wary of the Kansas City Royals’ high price on Greinke.

One major league source with close knowledge of Carmona’s market said the Indians aren’t eager to move him, but are in a “listen and explore” mode because of the heavy interest following the Cliff Lee signing.

For what it’s worth, some statistics suggest Carmona was better than Greinke in 2010. Carmona had the lower ERA and better ERA-plus, although Greinke had the lower WHIP and threw more innings.

Carmona is signed to a more favorable contract, in terms of cost and flexibility: $6.1 million in 2011, followed by team options worth $7 million, $9 million and $12 million in the subsequent three seasons, according to Cot’s Baseball Contracts.

Greinke, meanwhile, will earn $13.5 million in each of the next two seasons.

Carmona was a Cy Young Award candidate in 2007, when he went 19-8 with a 3.06 ERA and the Indians came within one game of the World Series. He slipped into a mysterious funk over the next two seasons, walking more batters (140 combined over 2008-09) than he struck out (137). But he returned to form this year with a 3.77 ERA in 210 1/3 innings.

— Jon Paul Morosi