Yahoo's Tim Brown tweets the "early market" for free agent reliever Kevin Gregg: the Rays, Nationals, Tigers, and Rockies. Dave van Dyck of the Chicago Tribune says the Orioles are also interested. I imagine Gregg will get a one-year deal for less than the $4.2MM he earned in 2009. This year the 31-year-old improved his control a bit and whiffed more than a batter per inning, but allowed 13 home runs in 68.6 innings and lost the Cubs' closing job to Carlos Marmol. The Cubs chose not to offer arbitration to Gregg, a Type A free agent.
With the Tigers and Rockies, the arbitration decisions of Brandon Lyon, Fernando Rodney, and Rafael Betancourt will be reached tonight, perhaps clearing the way for Gregg. The Rays are looking to add reasonably-priced late-inning arms (they've already traded for Jesse Chavez). The Nats have arbitration-eligible Mike MacDougal as the default closer currently, but may want another veteran option for 2009. Van Dyck wonders if the Nats might non-tender MacDougal.
