Blue Jays closer up for grabs

The Blue Jays have three pitchers vying for the closer job: Jason Frasor, Scott Downs and Kevin Gregg. At this point The Globe and Mail suggests Gregg is the front runner in spring training.

"He has the stature," Blue Jays pitching coach Bruce Walton said. "He's big, he don't look real nice, and I don't think he is nice when he gets out on the mound. He has that appearance that he's going out there and he doesn't even want to see you foul a ball off. That's pretty special."

If anyone has the inside track, it is probably Gregg, won signed a one-year, $2.45-million (U.S.) contract in the off-season.

After totalling 61 saves in two seasons with the Florida Marlins, Gregg was traded to the Chicago Cubs, but 2009 was a struggle as he went 5-6 with 23 saves and a 4.72 ERA. He also surrendered 13 home runs, tying him for the major-league lead among relief pitchers, and eventually lost his closer's job last August.

Fantasy Impact: Stature didn't help Gregg hold down the Cubs closer job. Both Chicago and Florida were willing to give him up in back-to-back offseasons, which doesn't say much for the veteran. We don't believe Gregg is a favorite in the race for Jays closer. We're leaning toward Frasor earning the job at this time. This is likely the best battle in terms of closers this spring, but the winner might not get a ton of save chances for a potentially last-place Tortonto team.

Cubs closer up for grabs

Update (8/19/09 @ 1:47 p.m.): Piniella ends up naming Marmol his closer. This is still a developing situation due to Marmol's erratic nature. Guzman should not be ignored in fantasy play, nor should Gregg, as either could be counted on for saves down the stretch.
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Lou Piniella says he's considering removing Kevin Gregg from the Cubs closer role. The ESPN blurb mentions Carlos Marmol and Angel Guzman as candidates to close.

Fantasy Impact: Marmol is the more obvious choice from a fantasy standpoint, but he's been erratic this year. Marmol has struck out more than a batter per inning, but his 52 walks in 56 1/3 innings is not the stuff for finish off leads. Guzman's numbers are much more stable across the board, but with one career save and just 39 strikeouts in 52 innings, he also leaves something to be desired. This situation could result in Baltimore's George Sherrill removal earlier this year: the Orioles realized Sherrill was still the best option and continued to use him as closer shortly after his demotion. Sherrill is a much better pitcher than Gregg, however, so don't hold your breath on a similar result. Call it "closer by committee" for the Cubs. Marmol should get first shot.

Steve Phillips on the Cubs

ESPN's Steve Phillips believes the Cubs closer situation is a battle that will eventually be won by Carlos Marmol. According to Philips, Marmol has the better stuff and is the better pitcher when compared with current Cubs closer Kevin Gregg. Phillips voiced his opinion numerous times on ESPN's Sunday Night Baseball as Marmol pitched a perfect eighth and Gregg struggled through the ninth.

Phillips also had a bit of a run-in with Lou Piniella this week and apologized to the Cubs manager for his criticism of Piniella's perceived handling of Kosuke Fukudome.

Gregg still the guy in Chicago

CBSsports.com reports that despite Carlos Marmol's opportunity to save tonight, Kevin Gregg is still the Cubs' closer. Gregg blew his latest save opportunity but will be the man Lou Piniella calls on Sunday if the Cubs have a save chance.

Cubs trade for Gregg

The Cubs may not be bringing back Kerry Wood. They traded a minor leaguer for Kevin Gregg today. Gregg has closer capabilities, and coupled with Carlos Marmol, he could fill either the setup role or the closing role for the Cubs in 2009. Here's the release:

CHICAGO – The Chicago Cubs today acquired right-handed pitcher Kevin Gregg from the Florida Marlins for minor league right-handed pitcher Jose Ceda.

Gregg, 30, went 7-8 with 29 saves, four holds and a 3.41 ERA (26 ER/68.2 IP) in 72 relief appearances for the Marlins last season. He tied for the National League lead with seven relief wins, ranked eighth in the league in saves and 11th with a .203 batting average against, including a .181 batting average (21-for-116) by left-handed hitters and a .222 batting average (30-for-135) by right-handed hitters.

In 2008, Gregg posted a 2.92 ERA or less in five of his six calendar months, closing the season with nine scoreless outings in September. In a three-month period from May 6-August 12, Gregg went 3-2 with 21 saves, a 1.86 ERA (8 ER/38.2 IP) and a .165 batting average against (23-for-139).

Since pitching exclusively in relief the last two seasons, Gregg has stranded 32 of his 36 inherited runners, an 88.9 percent success rate. He stranded 15 of 16 inherited runners last season, a 93.8 percent success rate.

Gregg recorded a 3.48 ERA (59 ER/152.2 IP), a .205 batting average against (114-for-557) and 61 saves in 146 relief appearances for Florida from 2007-08. The 6-foot-6, 238-pounder struck out 145 batters in 152.2 innings pitched, an average of 8.5 strikeouts per nine innings, and allowed only 10 home runs, an average of one per 15 innings pitched in the last two campaigns. Gregg went 2-3 with 13 saves and a 2.56 ERA (9 ER/31.2 IP) in 28 appearances against the National League Central during the last two seasons.

The righthander joined the Marlins prior to the 2007 campaign in a trade from the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, where he spent the first four seasons of his major league career (2003-06). In his first season in Florida, Gregg set a career high with 74 relief appearances and 32 saves, which tied for eighth in the National League, while stranding 17 of his 20 inherited runners.

Gregg is 18-21 with 62 saves and a 4.00 ERA (181 ER/407.2 IP) in 271 major league appearances, all but eight in relief. He appeared in the 2004 and 2005 postseasons with the Angels, combining to toss four scoreless relief innings in two appearances. A native of Corvallis, OR, Gregg was originally selected by Oakland in the 15th round of the 1996 Draft. He signed with the Angels as a minor league free agent prior to the 2003 campaign.

Ceda, 21, combined to go 4-3 with nine saves and a 3.83 ERA (36 ER/84.2 IP) in 37 appearances (12 starts) between Single-A Daytona and Double-A Tennessee in 2008. The Cubs acquired the righthander from San Diego for infielder Todd Walker and cash considerations on July 31, 2006.