Thursday's deadline on Gregg. What happens

[Michael Bradley]

I was kind of expecting him back given that Downs and Frasor are also FA's and the rest of the pen (as of today) seems shaky, but I'm not surprised that they declined. It was either $4+ million for a decent/unspectacular reliever or save that money and get a sandwich pick. It is nice to see AA sticking to the long-term plan. I'd rather have the prospect over Gregg for one more season.

I too am expecting Frasor back with his Type A status, but stranger things have happened.

[Schad]

86% save rate is actually pretty good. He's was a top 10 closer last year (probably around 8th IMO) so he's a borderline playoff closer.

So while he is replaceable, he will not be easily replaced.

Save conversion rate means more about the situations a pitcher is placed in than it does about the pitcher. In addition to those blown saves, Gregg had four games where he gave up runs but was still credited with the save (plus one where he was scored on but got the win, and another where he gave up a run but was credited with a hold).

A lights-out closer will blow close to 20% of their save opportunities if they're coming in with a one-run lead every game, and a terrible closer will save a tonne if they're always entering with a three-run cushion...Joe Borowski saved 45 of 53 in 2007 despite an ERA over 5.00, in large part because he had nine games where he gave up runs but was still credited with a save.

[LittleOzzy]

The Toronto Blue Jays are in the market for a new closer after turning down the contract options for Kevin Gregg.

General manager Alex Anthopoulos had until midnight Thursday to accept either a $5.25 million U.S. option for 2011 or a two-year option worth $9.5 million U.S. for the next two seasons.

Instead, he chose to cut the 6-foot-6 right-hander loose, making Gregg a free agent. He earned a Type B designation and the club would get a compensatory draft pick if he signs elsewhere.

Gregg, 32, recorded a career-high 37 saves last season but many of them were an adventure. He posted an earned run average of 7.90 with 16 walks in 13 2/3 innings when pitching on the second of consecutive games.

But the Blue Jays have no clear successor for the role and now three of the team’s most reliable relievers from 2010 — Gregg, Scott Downs and Jason Frasor — are on the open market.

http://www.thestar.com/sports/baseball/ ... -free?bn=1

[FreeAgent]

Figured. They'll find a way to replace Gregg. Meanwhile, take the pick and keep stockpiling the talent.

[KPJR]

thank god...he wasnt a really good closer...control problems...we can groom someone else as closer or find any reliver...

jp basically brought broken arms and made a solid bullpen in the 2009 season...its possible

[dagger]

Well, they ought to have a huge amount of cabbage to spend this winter on free agents or trade acquisitions.

No more BJ money, no more Doc subsidy, no Gregg option, no Buck, no Downs. Aside from bringing back Bautista at a higher salary, AA can either do a lot of rearranging or he can save Rogers a pisspot full of money.

[DonYon]

Save conversion rate means more about the situations a pitcher is placed in than it does about the pitcher. In addition to those blown saves, Gregg had four games where he gave up runs but was still credited with the save (plus one where he was scored on but got the win, and another where he gave up a run but was credited with a hold).

A lights-out closer will blow close to 20% of their save opportunities if they're coming in with a one-run lead every game, and a terrible closer will save a tonne if they're always entering with a three-run cushion...Joe Borowski saved 45 of 53 in 2007 despite an ERA over 5.00, in large part because he had nine games where he gave up runs but was still credited with a save.

Isn't it more important that the the guy gets the job done (get the save) with consistency? I think I'd rather take a guy that gives up a run every time out over a guy that will give up 3 runs every 3rd outing and therefore blowing 33% of his opportunities. I think being consistent was what Gregg did for the most part.

Obviously the thought him coming out in the 9th in a one run playoff game is pretty scary, but I still think Gregg was a solid closer for us last season and deserves a lot of credit for getting the job done on most nights.

[SharoneWright]

I still think Gregg was a solid closer for us last season and deserves a lot of credit for getting the job done on most nights.

I'll pay Gregg his credit when the draft pick we gain becomes part of a long term plan to win the World Series. Way to go KG!

[Ong_dynasty]

Well, they ought to have a huge amount of cabbage to spend this winter on free agents or trade acquisitions.

No more BJ money, no more Doc subsidy, no Gregg option, no Buck, no Downs. Aside from bringing back Bautista at a higher salary, AA can either do a lot of rearranging or he can save Rogers a pisspot full of money.

This is why I am all for moving Bautista. Just because Ithink if we want to keep him we would have to offern him a longish term contract. I just think he is too much of a risk reward for a team that can use the money to stock pile.
If we are all for stockpiling..let it happen (ofcourse as long as we get value back..ala Colby Rasmus).

[L3M0NAD3]

Both players (Olivo & Gregg) are now free agents and the moves, combined with the looming departures of free agents Scott Downs, Jason Frasor and John Buck, put the Blue Jays in position to add seven draft picks within the top 45-50 selections if all five players sign elsewhere

[Schad]

Isn't it more important that the the guy gets the job done (get the save) with consistency? I think I'd rather take a guy that gives up a run every time out over a guy that will give up 3 runs every 3rd outing and therefore blowing 33% of his opportunities. I think being consistent was what Gregg did for the most part.

Pitchers don't really have that much control over the situation...if a guy comes in and gives up a run up 4-1, he likely would have given up that run in a 4-3 game as well. Thus, what you want is a guy who doesn't give up that many runs, rather than one who white-knuckles saves when he has sucked.

And Gregg was anything but consistent; after getting off to a very good start to the season his control problems returned in a big way, and from May 9 on his line looked like this: 4.40 ERA, 1.60 WHIP, 5.4 BB/9. Those are terrible numbers.

[nnnwt]

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/b ... le1787534/

If the Blue Jays don’t like what’s out there as far as closers go Anthopoulos said the club could very well try to sign Gregg to a new contract that would bring him back for next season.

“Like I explained to Kevin last night, we’re not prepared to lock him in right now,” Anthopoulos said. “But we may very well come back to him in two weeks or three weeks from now, after we’ve had a chance to continue to work through the off-season and the market.”

Anthopuolos said Gregg was “very open” about the possibility of coming back to the Blue Jays.

[hyper316]

^ noooooo, i dont want to see The Gregg with the Jays again.

[baulderdash77]

Gregg was a top 10 (#8) closer last year. That makes him a fringe playoff team closer. So he is good enough to get you there, but not good enough to win for you in the playoffs.

It's pretty responsible to take a look at the market and then come back to him if they can't get an upgrade.

[TheBunk]

Great move by AA, cash in on those shiny 37 saves.

In addition to having ample young players ready to step into bullpen, it's a deep FA relief market with numerous quality relievers available that won't cost a pick(Jon Rauch, Jesse Crain, Kerry Wood, Joaquin Benoit, JJ Putz, Koji Uehara, Hisanori Takahashi, Brian Fuentes, Chad Qualls, even Tyler Walker is interesting). The Jays will be fine.

[satyr9]

I don't much care if he's back or not, but I'm happy it wasn't at the option prices. Gregg has a little value, simply because you know he performs the same in the 9th, which isn't true of all relievers, so even with marginal numbers he's worth something. Still, I love the pick up whoever gets passed on approach, 'cause you get next year's Gregg paying half the price instead of premium reliever money. I think another team probably gets stupider over the save totals than AA and Gregg is gone, but at the right price I certainly wouldn't be upset to see him back. IMO he's the perfect fill-in type until you get someone coming up and really looking like they deserve the spot. It also means if you get a single lights our reliever, you can move them around for the actual high leverage inning and keep Gregg as the "closer." And since we don't even have that piece yet, I'm all for letting the new guys learn how to pitch as relievers without worrying about proving they're closers too.