The Blue Jays are closing in on adding Chicago Cubs free-agent closer Kevin Gregg.
"We would hope there would be a resolution within the next day or so," said Gregg's agent Dan Horwits from Los Angeles Tuesday afternoon.
And when one new reliever enters the team picture... one is likely to leave.
The Jays may portray Gregg’s entrance as a new entry — joining lefty Scott Downs and Jason Frasor — in a three-horse derby. However, the Jays could move Downs elsewhere for prospects.
Gregg has had his fastball clocked at 96 m.p.h. and has a nasty splitter. In splitting closer’s duties with Carlos Marmol he converted 23 of 30 saves for the Cubs. Gregg blew back-to-back saves against the Florida Marlins in August and manager Lou Piniella thought Gregg was tipping his pitches.
The Colorado Rockies, San Diego Padres, the Marlins and another club expressed interest in Gregg, according to Horwits.
What made the Jays attractive?
“The ability to be a closer, I’m not saying that the role is his 100%, but he will have the ability to compete for the job,” Horwits said.
Gregg, 31, has a better game-on-the-line resume that Frasor or Downs, saving 84 games in the previous three seasons. The 6-foot-6 right-hander from Corvallis, Ore., who has never had an arm injury, had 32 saves for the 2007 Florida Marlins and 29 for the Marlins in 2008 before being dealt to the Cubs.
Frasor has 14 saves the previous three seasons, including 11 in 2009 and has 32 in his six-year career.
Downs has 15 the previous three years, with nine in 2009.
Downs has mostly been used as a set-up man and turned in a Mark Eichhorn-Mike Timlin like season in 2008 with a 1.78 earned run average appearing in 66 games, a season after he led the American League with 81 appearances.
Downs had the first crack at B.J. Ryan’s job but he was sidelined injuring his left foot.
The Jays will pay Ryan $10 million US to sit at home and not pitch, after he was released in July. Gregg earned $4.2 million in 2009.
Horwits would not discuss how much the Jays had offered although he did call a Denver report that the Rockies had a $2 million offer on the table “inaccurate.”
Horwits laughed when asked if Gregg had any problem coming to another country to pitch, as over the years some free agents balked at coming north. “Well, our firm looks after Aaron Hill and Brandon League, who was there for six seasons, is my guy, so I’m sure if he’d had any questions he has talked to other players,” Horwits said.
Gregg allowed 60 hits and walked 30 in 68 2/3 innings while striking out 71 with the Cubs. He had a 4.72 earned run average with opponents hitting .229 against him. Gregg allowed 13 homers, a league high amongst relievers.
Gregg has a 3.86 ERA over the past three seasons.
As a Type A free agent Gregg was not offered arbitration by the Cubs, so when the Jays sign him they will not lose a draft pick.
