Kevin Gregg

Despite his release from the Dodgers in April, and getting signed by a bad team with a couple of other closers (well, if you count Carlos Marmol as a closer) on the roster, Gregg somehow managed to save 33 games for the Cubs last year. The tall right-hander walked 32 in 62 innings, which is probably why he's still a free agent. Someone may give him a minor league contract thanks to his 176 saves in the last seven years, but the 35-year-old is not going to head into spring training as the top guy in anyone's bullpen.

Gregg was awful in the closer's role with the Orioles in 2011, blowing seven saves and recording a 4.37 ERA. He walked a whopping 6.0 BB/9IP and simply looks washed up at age 33. Look for Jim Johnson to usurp the closer's role next season, while Gregg's only potential window for value will open if Johnson suffers an injury and the O's decide to give him another look in the ninth inning. Unfortunately, his skill set does not yield much to benefit from when he isn't closing, so Gregg shouldn't be used as a staff filler given the damage he'll do to your ERA and WHIP. Further, the acquisition of Matt Lindstrom in February adds another road block in Gregg's bid to return to the ninth-inning role.

Gregg inherited the closer's role last season after a couple of shaky outings from Jason Frasor in April and recorded a career-high 37 saves as a result. His overall numbers kept him from joining the elite closers, but his cheap draft-day price tag made that easy to swallow for most owners. He's still searching for a job after rejecting the team's arbitration offer but could land a job closing for another team having earned the Proven Closer tag with 121 saves the last four years. He'll likely find his way into the ninth inning again in Baltimore given Koji Uehara's injury history and the aforementioned Proven Closer tag.

Gregg won the Cubs' closer job in spring training and pitched well in the role for about half the year before falling apart and ceding the ninth inning to Carlos Marmol down the stretch. As in seasons past, his biggest issue was the long ball - Gregg allowed a whopping 13 in just 68.2 IP. He signed with Toronto in the offseason and will compete with Scott Downs or Jason Frasor. He's got the worst skillset of the group, but could win the job since he has experience in the role.

As expected the Marlins weren't willing to pay market prices for a closer, and Gregg was shipped out to greener pastures. He's no lock to replace Kerry Wood at the head of the Cubs' bullpen with Carlos Marmol also in the picture, but the knee injury that muddied up his second half isn't expected to be an issue going forward. Given the uncertainty over his role you probably shouldn't pay market prices for him either, but Gregg showed in Anaheim that he has value as a set-up man, so once the more reliable options are off the board don't shy away from him for too long.

The Marlins brought in "established" closers like Jorge Julio and Armando Benitez at various times in 2007, but it was Gregg who ended up leading the club with 32 saves. He's in the right home ballpark to compensate for his flyball tendencies, but his inconsistent control (4.29 BB/9IP in '07, 2.41 in '06, 4.06 in '05) is a slight concern. He's a candidate to be traded as probably the Marlins' most expensive player, so there are likely to be more reliable sources of saves.

Gregg is a useful low-leverage reliever who was trapped behind better pitchers with the Angels and needed a trade -- just not to the Marlins, who picked him up in November. He could slide into the swingman role Ricky Nolasco had in '06.

Gregg excelled out of the bullpen in 2005, especially after the All-Star Break when he posted a 3.03 ERA and struck out 31 batters in 35.2 innings. Gregg will compete for the fifth starter job in spring training and will likely bounce between middle relief and spot starts throughout 2006.

Gregg pitched well out of the bullpen all year and, despite his protests, that could be the role best suited for him. He'll have to shoulder more of the bullpen responsibility with Troy Percival gone, although he still might be called to plug any rotation holes in 2005 should they arise.

With the additions of Kelvim Escobar and Bartolo Colon, Gregg lost his shot to start the season as Anaheim's fifth starter. Gregg did well in limited duty with the Angels in 2003, posting a 3.28 ERA in five games (three starts), with a 1.05 WHIP. Even still, Gregg is an intriguing player for 2004 following a solid final month in Anaheim after his promotion from Triple-A.