Kevin Gregg Signs One-Year, $4.2 Million Deal
The Cubs avoided arb with Kevin Gregg by signing him to a one-year, $4.2 million contract. I'll leave it to others to add up the current payroll.
That leaves Michael Wuertz the only remaining unsigned Cub.
over 3 years ago
Al Yellon
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wow
awful lot for a setup guy but its a only a 1yr deal.
I dont care who the new owner is as long as he/she/them come equipped with a Jake Peavy and a Joe Beimel!!!
It's not that much more than Bob Howry made last year.
Gregg will be better than Howry.
"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx
Ironically, its the same contract Wood had last season..
Erm, well if we are going to call Milton Bradley nicknames, mine is Fischer Price: yes, you heard it here first..
You're right.
How weird.
"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx
well hopefully that means good things to come from him?
Erm, well if we are going to call Milton Bradley nicknames, mine is Fischer Price: yes, you heard it here first..
Maybe they had a few extra copies...
…of the paperwork lying around and decided to put it to good use.
RIP Ron Asheton (1948-2009)
If I was a betting man
I’d take that one.
The author of this post is not a certified scout, doctor, agent, statistician, manager, or journalist, nor was he ever a very good player, though he tried very hard to be like Ryne Sandberg and was about as scrappy as it gets (in T-ball). Any opinion expressed above should in no way be confused with fact, truth, or reality and is hereby qualified in the following ways: 1) The author does not know as much about baseball as Lou Piniella. 2) The author does not know as much about baseball as Jim Hendry. 3) The author does not know as much about baseball as either Dusty or Darren Baker.
Being better than the 2008 version of Bob Howry
shouldn’t be a difficult task.
I'm not going to even bother trying to update this sig everyday anymore... that's what the standings column on ESPN is for.
Updated on May 25, 2008
Thinkin the same thing!
Kwa...Ki...Sur...Pee...Nee...Ku?
by Kinky Reggae on Jan 19, 2009 12:28 PM CST up reply actions
I think I am in the minority here
But I think this team will be much better if Marmol sets up with Gregg closing. Marmol is that setup man we need to come in and dominate in a tense situation. Gregg is similar to Wood last year. He has good stuff but shouldn’t be brought into pressure cooker situations like Marmol was in last season.
Erm, well if we are going to call Milton Bradley nicknames, mine is Fischer Price: yes, you heard it here first..
It's an understandable point of view.
Lou said over the weekend that it’ll be an open competition between Gregg and Marmol in ST for the closer’s spot. If Gregg pitches well (i.e., throws strikes), I could actually see him getting the nod over Carlos based on experience.
RIP Ron Asheton (1948-2009)
The Rays did that last year
They saved their strongest relievers for the most important situations, and had lesser relievers closing.
It’s one of those clever Bill James ideas that makes a lot of sense.
I agree
"I like coconuts, you can break them open and they smell like ladies lying in the sun" Widespread Panic
I agree.
Kevin Gregg walks people left and right. As a setup man, he will fail. He has to come into the game with the bases empty.
The author of this post is not a certified scout, doctor, agent, statistician, manager, or journalist, nor was he ever a very good player, though he tried very hard to be like Ryne Sandberg and was about as scrappy as it gets (in T-ball). Any opinion expressed above should in no way be confused with fact, truth, or reality and is hereby qualified in the following ways: 1) The author does not know as much about baseball as Lou Piniella. 2) The author does not know as much about baseball as Jim Hendry. 3) The author does not know as much about baseball as either Dusty or Darren Baker.
It's amazing that such wisdom is found on this site...
I listen with bleeding ears to the idiots on sports talk radio in Des Moines blabbering on about Marmol needing to be the closer last year and the year before. People just don’t understand the value of the 7th and 8th inning to the game’s outcome.
I come to this site and read such reasoned arguments and realize I’m among intelligent people. It’s amazing the things Cubs fans can do without Old Style.
Proud recipient of a hot dog shot from the Iowa Cubs hot dog gun.
A Closer Is Not Needed
If you cannot bridge the 7th and 8th to get to him with a lead.
"I like coconuts, you can break them open and they smell like ladies lying in the sun" Widespread Panic
We learned that in 2005
Dempster was a solid closer, but the bullpen was shit that year.
Erm, well if we are going to call Milton Bradley nicknames, mine is Fischer Price: yes, you heard it here first..
2006, the only shining part of that team was the great combo of
Eyre and Howry. The rest of that team was, well, not good..
Erm, well if we are going to call Milton Bradley nicknames, mine is Fischer Price: yes, you heard it here first..
Another shining part
Was the emergence of good Rich Hill. A complete game shutout was the pitching highlight of the season.
Also Maddux pitching phenomenal in April was awesome too.
The rotating doors of starting pitching on the other hand was not.
Keep in mind though
a good closer can come in and get 5 outs if necessary. I like Marmol and Gregg in the 7-8 inning.
Kwa...Ki...Sur...Pee...Nee...Ku?
by Kinky Reggae on Jan 19, 2009 12:29 PM CST up reply actions
well looks like I am not in the minority here!
Erm, well if we are going to call Milton Bradley nicknames, mine is Fischer Price: yes, you heard it here first..
I never believed in Ceda, and even with that said, I think this deal will end up considered one of Jim Hendry's worst.
Jeremy Affeldt will be paid 3 M this year. He was a free agent.
Turned out J.J. Putz was available on the trade market.
The Marlins ended up releasing relievers who had better years last year than Gregg.
And Kevin Gregg is exactly the kind of pitcher Lou Piniella does not like.
We overpaid for Gregg in trade cost; we’re overpaying him in dollars; and the odds are 50/50 he will not end the year on the Cubs.
The author of this post is not a certified scout, doctor, agent, statistician, manager, or journalist, nor was he ever a very good player, though he tried very hard to be like Ryne Sandberg and was about as scrappy as it gets (in T-ball). Any opinion expressed above should in no way be confused with fact, truth, or reality and is hereby qualified in the following ways: 1) The author does not know as much about baseball as Lou Piniella. 2) The author does not know as much about baseball as Jim Hendry. 3) The author does not know as much about baseball as either Dusty or Darren Baker.
If we dont get Beimel
I’m gonna be upset. We need him and coulda had him with the money spent on gregg.
I dont care who the new owner is as long as he/she/them come equipped with a Jake Peavy and a Joe Beimel!!!
by cubsluver22 on Jan 19, 2009 12:00 PM CST up reply actions
have there been any rumors whatsoever of us getting Beimel?
that is strictly specualtion there
Erm, well if we are going to call Milton Bradley nicknames, mine is Fischer Price: yes, you heard it here first..
No such rumors are around.
"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx
We can start one
just send something to MLB Trade Rumors, they post anything
"I like coconuts, you can break them open and they smell like ladies lying in the sun" Widespread Panic
In their defense,
MLBTR doesn’t just post anything. They do post stories from real news sources and pretty much just report on the rumors and dealings that are out there. They’ve gained much credibility this way.
Proud recipient of a hot dog shot from the Iowa Cubs hot dog gun.
Can we just leave Wuertz unsigned?
I mean… seriously. Yuck.
I'm not going to even bother trying to update this sig everyday anymore... that's what the standings column on ESPN is for.
Updated on May 25, 2008
Mike Wuertz v. Kevin Gregg comparison
Wuertz Career ERA 3.57
Gregg Career ERA 4.00
Wuerz CHONE projected 2009 ERA 3.84
Gregg CHONE projected 2009 ERA 3.93
The author of this post is not a certified scout, doctor, agent, statistician, manager, or journalist, nor was he ever a very good player, though he tried very hard to be like Ryne Sandberg and was about as scrappy as it gets (in T-ball). Any opinion expressed above should in no way be confused with fact, truth, or reality and is hereby qualified in the following ways: 1) The author does not know as much about baseball as Lou Piniella. 2) The author does not know as much about baseball as Jim Hendry. 3) The author does not know as much about baseball as either Dusty or Darren Baker.
agreed
I don’t see anything wrong with these stats: http://chicago.cubs.mlb.com/stats/individual_stats_player.jsp?playerID=430900&statType=2
Erm, well if we are going to call Milton Bradley nicknames, mine is Fischer Price: yes, you heard it here first..
I don't understand the negativity towards Wuertz
He’s not that bad of a relief pitcher..
Erm, well if we are going to call Milton Bradley nicknames, mine is Fischer Price: yes, you heard it here first..
Right... if we sign him
rather inexpensively, then we might be able to move him mid season if the need arises, much like we did with Eyre.
Proud recipient of a hot dog shot from the Iowa Cubs hot dog gun.
The Tigers were interested in him a year ago.
"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx
If I recall, Wuertz
tends to go hot or cold. He can strike out the side or walk the park. That kind of inconsistency can drive fans nuts.
Hey, it's a new century!
by cowsarecool220 on Jan 19, 2009 2:51 PM CST up reply actions
Managers, too.
Plus, his name sounds like “worse,” so fans jump all over him. Kinda the opposite of Micah “Hoff-POWER.”
RIP Ron Asheton (1948-2009)
Still hurts to see
I expected it to be around 4-5 million, but it still hurts to see this. A guy like Brandon Lyon is still on the market. He’s as good a gamble in 2009 as Gregg, and he might’ve been cheaper financially. There were other options. There’s already speculation that Jose Ceda could close at some point in 2009 for the Marlins, a Marlins team that’s a legitimate playoff contender. At worst, he’ll be an asset that’s utilized at some point in season. It wouldn’t stun me if Angel Guzman was placed in the fireman’s role, as our critical 7th/8th inning arm.
Btw, Wuertz gets unfairly ripped at times by fans. I like Wuertz … but his command has fallen off the table the last two years, and unless he fixes that, he’ll likely be in Lou’s doghouse. But … in Gregg, we basically have a slightly better Michael Wuertz in a positive scenario (Gregg’s ability to deal the splitter against lefties giving him an edge on Wuertz).
Why not?
Marlins have a solid rotation with Nolasco, Volstad, Josh Johnson and likely Andrew Miller and Anibal Sanchez. It wouldn’t surprise anyone if that’s one of the best rotations in baseball next year. They didn’t lose that much off their lineup from last year – Willingham hurts, Jacobs is replaceable. They wanted more speed and defense this year, and their defense should be better with the changes. Loaded farm system with a bevy of arms and positional pieces. I know – Phillies and Mets are in that division and get the attention. But this is a quality Marlins team in the making, and once again, they’ve retooled rather quickly. If there is a question, it is in the pen, but Ceda could help them out, as could Ryan Tucker and Sean West potentially.
I like the 2009 Marlins chances
provided their defense is much improved.
Hey, it's a new century!
by cowsarecool220 on Jan 19, 2009 2:53 PM CST up reply actions
OF defense should be
Maybin in CF should be an upgrade over Ross, who was a solid CF in his won route and looked real good in RF. Ross should be an upgrade over Hermida, and Hermida, an average RF should be an upgrade over Willingham in LF. The infield defense is harder to figure because I’m still not sure what the 2nd/3rd plan is. Uggla does get a bad rap at 2nd – he’s a decent 2nd baseman. Will he stick at 2nd? Personally, I’d slide him over to 3rd and give Coghlan/Bonifacio looks at 2nd, but there was speculation that they were going to keep Uggla at 2nd and go with Coghlan/Bonifacio/Cantu/McPherson at 3rd. There are rumors that they’ll go after Orlando Cabrera, which would help the defense a lot by shifting Uggla to 3rd in all likelihood.
The bigger concern I would have is about the middle of that lineup. They do need Hermida to bounce back, to give them a good 3rd cog to HanRam and Uggla. If he does, this team should be quality, though.
Yeah, like the Cardinals, the Marlins are a team I'd never completely count out.
They always seem to find a way to make some noise at one point or another.
RIP Ron Asheton (1948-2009)
And if not a playoff contender
Marlins are a thorn to any opposing team. Just see Mets and Cubs for that!
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