Dodgers Sign Veteran Kevin Gregg

This just in. According to a tweet from Ken Gurnick, the Dodgers have signed veteran right hander Kevin Gregg to a minor league contract. I am assuming this means he will also get an invite to major league spring training.

Gregg, is a right handed reliever, originally from Corvallis, Oregon. Gregg is 34 years old, and was drafted by Oakland in the 15 round of the 1996 amateur draft. Gregg didn’t make his big league debut until his age 25 season back in 2003. Gregg made his MLB debut with the Angels, and pitched in Anaheim his first two seasons. He only pitched in five games in 2003, but pitched in 55 games the following year. His first full season he posted a 5-2 record, 4.21 ERA, 28 walks, and 84 whiffs in 87 innings pitched while with the Angels.

Kevin Gregg-Charles LeClaire-USPRESSWIRE

After two more decent-ish seasons with the Angels they traded him to the Marlins for Chris Resop. Gregg pitched two seasons with the Marlins from 2007-2008. Gregg pitched in at least 70 games over the next three seasons. Gregg pitched a season in Chicago for the Cubs in 2009, Signed for a year in Toronto, and then signed with Baltimore, where he has spent the last two seasons. Gregg has saved 30 or more games in two seasons, and has 20+ saves in five straight seasons from 2007-2011. Gregg was the Marlins closer in 2007 after several other options didn’t pan out. Gregg saved 32 games that year, posting a 3.54 ERA, and whiffing 87 in 74 games. Gregg went on to save 29 games for the Marlins in 2008, before he was traded again.

Gregg saved 23 games for the Cubs in 2009, before he had one of his better seasons in Toronto in 2010. That year he saved 37 games for the Blue Jays, while posting a 3.51 ERA in 63 games. Gregg signed with Baltimore in 2011, and saved 22 games in 63 games, before being demoted back to middle relief. Last season for the Orioles in 2012, Gregg pitched in 40 games posting a 3-2 record, a 4.95 ERA, and whiffing 37 batters in 43.2 innings.

Kevin Gregg-Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports

All total Gregg has 144 career saves, a 4.13 ERA, and has pitched in 509 games. It appears this seems to be a more of a minor league fodder type depth move then anything else. I guess Albuquerque needs players too right? Gregg has had some halfway decent years, and has put up pretty decent strikeout numbers. But good god his walk rates are atrocious. He has a career 8.8 whiff per nine rate, but a 4.0 walk per nine rate respectively. That comes out to about a 2:1 strikeout to walk ratio. I would think he has an outside shot at making the big league roster. It would seem unlikely though, since there is limited space available in the Dodger bullpen. Or he could be just another camp arm.

Gregg throws a number of pitches. He has a fastball, slider, cutter, and a splitter. He mainly throws his two-seamer, and slider. He used to throw a change-up, and curve but stopped throwing those pitches several years ago. He also wears glasses, and could be goggle buddies with Belisario.

One good thing about Gregg is that he can get left handers out. According to his splits. He has held lefties to a .234 BAA, and an OPS of .717, over the course of his ten year MLB career.