The Blue Jays declined their option(s) for closer Kevin Gregg earlier this month, making the right-hander a free agent for the second time in as many offseasons. Let's review his stock…
The Good
- Gregg has always been a strikeout pitcher, posting at least an 8.8 K/9 in three of the last four years. His ground ball rate has settled in close to 42% over the last three seasons.
- With at least 23 saves in each of the last four seasons, Gregg has experience late in games and would be able to step right into the ninth inning for an interested team.
- He's never been on the disabled list.
- Gregg is a Type B free agent, so it doesn't matter that the Jays offered him arbitration. A team will not have to surrender a draft pick to sign him.
The Bad
- All of those strikeouts come with a healthy amount of walks. Gregg has walked 4.2 batters per nine innings over the last three season, and that doesn't include intentional free passes.
- He can be prone to the long ball, surrendering one homer for every nine innings pitched over the last three seasons.
- Gregg is 32 (33 in June), so the prime of his career could be in the rear-view mirror.
The Verdict
Blue Jays GM Alex Anthopoulos has kept in touch with Gregg this offseason, and the Rockies are expected to have some interest as well. Although he's obviously a notch below Rafael Soriano, Gregg is a solid free agent option for a team looking to shore up its late-game bullpen at a reasonable cost.
Angels should bring him back!
I agree I think he would be a great pickup for the Halos
I agree Gregg would be a great pick up for the Angels
I agree Halos should sign him before some one else accidentally does.
I agree; I’d rather see him in those late-innings walk some Jays players for a change.
keep a defibrillator near by when watching gregg close a game out!
People say that pain is okay so long as you get the results. That is not true in Gregg’s case.
I dont get why this guy is considered a closer. He always seems to be mediocre. His lowest career era, with over 25 innings pitched, is 3.51. and his career era is a little over 4. Seems to be a setup man at best, probably deserves to be a middle relief guy.
would rafel soriano sign with the jays ?
Absolutley, but I’d rather see the Jays sign Crain to be their closer.
I doubt AA gives up a 1st rounder for a reliever at this point.. He has the arms with in to come up with a closer.
Soriano seems like a perfect fit for the Jays; even more than Crain.
Soriano minus a 1st rounder in a stacked draft? no thanks
Biggest issues with Gregg is he has a huge drop off when he pitches back to back days. If he’s coming off rest he’s fine. The second day is iffy, the third day you may as well forfeit.
Based on that information, if managed correctly Gregg would be lights out. Cito was hardly a good manager and would run Gregg out regardless of the stats because he was the “closer”.
There should be a stat to describe games that were ‘barely closed’. ie. 2 or more walks/hits given up in the course of close.
the fact that this guy was predicted to go to the Braves scares me
You don’t want Old Gregg? Don’t ya love him?
is that a “mighty boosh” reference? if it is, that should stick.. he could enter games with “ive got the funk” playing. creep the hell out of hitters.
Dude, think about the number of people he is going to give heart attacks to.
Granted he’s always helped the Braves in the past but I doubt he will continue to if we sign him
For sure.
Teams for a fact he will never go to: Cubs and Florida. Both saw him at his “best”, that is.. Blowing game after game and having the inane ability of giving up the game winning HR whenever he could.
That said? let him pitch in the 6-7th inning and 3-4 times a week and he could be a serviceable guy, just not as a setup, nor closer on any team with a playoff chance. He can’t handle pressure and his stuff is not that good.
I don’t see how anyone could be interested in this guy, but he seems to find a job anyway.
He scares you but will get the job done more than not…actually what am I talking about?
A while ago, he singlehandedly ruined my season in The Show 10 with a 1-6 record and an ERA in the 6s =(
Lou Piniella pretty much had that same expierence, just not in a video game.
I’m sure that in the history of baseball there have been other effective, reasonably skilled players that were absolutely dreadful to watch play but I can’t think of any.
buddy is always good on paper but I never liked the way he “nibbled” at the strike zone.
Gregg is definitely capable of some epic blow-ups, but he’s pretty effective and gets the job done most of the time. and when he’s really feeling it, he’s able to paint corners amazingly well (of course, when he’s not, hes capable of walking 3 guys in an inning…sometimes more haha)
In any real situation (read playoffs) Kevin Gregg would be batting practice.
you guys are being WAY too hard on gregg. over the past 4 years this guy has an era 3.79 and 121 saves in 147 chances for an 82% success rate. for 4 to 5 million a year for 2 or 3 years for a proven veteran arm is good value. remember, bullpen guys are often flashes in the pan, this guy has been solid. sure it’s not rivera (who buy the way will cost you20 million a year!!!) but what is the difference over 162? MO has a 92% success rate with saves. and yes, i admit his saves are a lot prettier. but if i had a choice between saving one more game every 10 opportunities, or using that 15 million to upgrade somewhere else there is no contest. gregg would be a much better play.
full disclosure- i am a jays fan, and really want the draft pick