Cubs Trade for Kevin Gregg
UPDATE: The Miami Herald says it's for 4-star prospect Jose Ceda. Shiite. Too much, way, way too much. And since Ceda was one of the possible names going to San Diego for Jake Peavy, you have to think that ship is about to sail.
Double check my work if you wish, but I believe Gregg is set to be a free agent after 2009 and is arbitration eligible for this year. He made $2.5M last year.
Ken Rosenthal is reporting that the Cubs have acquired Marlins relief pitcher Kevin Gregg. The 30-year old pitcher was the Marlins closer for the better part of two seasons racking up 61 saves and ERA's of 3.54 and 3.41 respectively. He strikes out nearly a batter per inning but walks a few too many guys for my tastes. I'm sure the first reaction will be that Kerry Wood is definitely a goner, but my guess is that it's just a possible back-up plan as Gregg could certainly slide into a set-up role. Even if Wood goes, I'd rather see Carlos Marmol in the closer role.
Of course, whenever a Cubs trade goes down, the first question is who do the Cubs get and the second question is what did they give up? Rosenthal don't have the answer on the second part yet, but I'll update as soon as someone finds out.
Twitter RSS for TCR
#1 Re: Cubs Trade for Kevin Gregg
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3700730
ESPN says the Cubs gave up Jose Ceda. If true, that's a bad trade. The Cubs could ahve gotten way more for Ceda.
#2 Re: Cubs Trade for Kevin Gregg
what is his contract situation?
we blew one of his saves, didn't we?
#23 Re: Cubs Trade for Kevin Gregg
Gregg is arbitration eligible and can become a free agent after the season. He has 5.002 of service time heading into this season, so he will be over 6 after the 2009 season.
#3 Re: Cubs Trade for Kevin Gregg
maybe this guy is going to lovely SD
#6 Re: Cubs Trade for Kevin Gregg
I can't imagine why SD would rather have Gregg than Ceda.
(Yes, I know, they used to have Ceda. My point stands.)
#4 Re: Cubs Trade for Kevin Gregg
Buster Olney says Ceda was the give.
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3700730
Awwww poo-poo.
#5 Re: Cubs Trade for Kevin Gregg
another power arm in the pen is exactly what we need. 7th Greg 8th Marmol 9th Wood.
#7 Re: Cubs Trade for Kevin Gregg
that would be great, but I fear it means the end of the Kerry Wood Cubbie era.
#9 Re: Cubs Trade for Kevin Gregg
7th jeff 8th Greg 9th Marmol?
#10 Re: Cubs Trade for Kevin Gregg
Samardzija may very well start the year in the bullpen, but they're wasting his talents as a reliever. He deserves multiple shots as a starter.
#11 Re: Cubs Trade for Kevin Gregg
Agreed
#12 Re: Cubs Trade for Kevin Gregg
Marquis has shown a tendency to start hot and then go all Siberia on us ... maybe a June or July switcharoo between the two.
#13 Re: Cubs Trade for Kevin Gregg
It would take a month to stretch him out, if I remember Joba Chamberlain from last year.
#37 Re: Cubs Trade for Kevin Gregg
Yeah my guess is that this signals not the end of the Wood era, but rather the beginning of the Smarja-as-starter era. Zambrano/Harden/Dempster-or-Peavy/Lilly/Smarja ain't bad.
#8 Re: Cubs Trade for Kevin Gregg
It's not like our traded pitching prospects ever pan out with the Marl....oh never mind.
#14 Re: Cubs Trade for Kevin Gregg
Hendry addresses the media in one hour.
#15 Re: Cubs Trade for Kevin Gregg
I don't think acquiring Gregg means the end of Wood, as Hendry has stated he's still talking to Wood's agent daily, but it would just appear that this trade is currently just to replace Howry and a fallback option in case Wood doesn't resign. That said, Ceda is too much to give up when you consider what the Marlins just gave to the Nats for two more useful pieces in Willingham and Olsen. Ceda doesn't appear to be a lock prospect by any means given his control issues and lack of any pitch outside of a near 100 FB but it's still too much to give up on a setup man who will likely get a bump up to around $4 million in arbitration. It would also seem to nearly put a nail in the coffin on a Peavy trade unless he himself vetoes the deal to the Braves.
#16 Re: Cubs Trade for Kevin Gregg
If Gregg has a good year, he could be at least a Type B, if not A, after the season right? Is Ceda worth a MLB ready power arm + the potential draft picks?
#18 Re: Cubs Trade for Kevin Gregg
unless he bombs this year, he's pretty much a guaranteed Type A, it's not hard to get into the top 17% or so of relievers.
#57 Re: Cubs Trade for Kevin Gregg
That is the key about this deal for me, Ceda for Gregg is horrendous on paper, but Ceda for Gregg and 4 draft picks is a good trade for a team that just got ripped on by a national magazine for how suckstastic its farm is.
#60 Re: Cubs Trade for Kevin Gregg
that's a leap of faith that the Gregg leaves after 2009, but at least it's an option. I understand not wanting to pour 30M+ into Kerry Wood for 3 yrs and the deal makes financial sense. Giving up Jose Ceda though for Kevin Gregg is still foolish....
I don't think it's a terrible trade, but I'm not a fan either.
#62 Re: Cubs Trade for Kevin Gregg
I think you guys are overrating Ceda a bit. There's not much chance he'd outperforrm Gregg in 2009, and in 2010, as has pointed out, there's a pretty good chance Gregg is going to turn into two top 60 draft picks.
He likely represents a $4 to $6 million saving over Wood, which can be put towards the Dempster/Lowe/Peavy/Sabathia/Bradley/Ibanez fund.
He's a guy who's shown the ability to close games in the 9th- and that right there is worth at least $4 million in the FA market (see Borowski or T. Jones for reference).
#63 Re: Cubs Trade for Kevin Gregg
you just don't find too many guys that can top 95 mph consistently and I believe Ceda can. I don't feel like looking for the article, but Baseball America had something on it last year about all the pitchers with a fastball clocked over 95 over the last 5 or so years in the minors. It's pretty much a who's who of good pitchers.
a lot has to do with that I don't think Gregg is all that great. Way too many walks, pitcher-friendly environment, etc, etc...
guess he throws a splitter that he gets away from a lot, maybe he'll get back to it.
#64 Re: Cubs Trade for Kevin Gregg
I recall that article. How many of those guys weren't able to be successful A ball starters, though? Ceda's not Verlander or Zambrano. Maybe his upside is Mariano Rivera but we he could be the next David Aardsma, as well.
#70 Re: Cubs Trade for Kevin Gregg
Hey Rob, Andy Sisco is on the phone for you.
#71 Re: Cubs Trade for Kevin Gregg
Did Andy Sisco hit 95+ consistently? I honestly don't remember. He was suppose to have a good curve I know. He obviously is loaded with talent or the Royals and WSox wouldn't have wanted him.
Sisco's problem is he's an ass who doesn't care about playing baseball. Never really got in shape and got in some serious shit in the minors with the Cubs...in-fighting, etc.
Getting Gregg makes complete sense for the Cubs, I just don't like giving up Ceda for it. It being the Marlins though, we can get him back in 3 yrs when he gets expensive for the player or players we drafted with the picks for Wood or Gregg.
#72 Re: Cubs Trade for Kevin Gregg
IIRC Sisco threw very hard. Very very hard. I would have to look it up to be sure.
#73 Re: Cubs Trade for Kevin Gregg
He threw at least 95.
#74 Re: Cubs Trade for Kevin Gregg
not sure where Sisco is now, I think he had TJ surgery, but if he can top 95, he'll get about 10 more chances in the majors if he wants them.
Bobby Jenks comes to mind. It only took one team for him to turnaround but the Angels were done with his antics as well. Actually probably the reason the Wsox went after Sisco.
#75 Re: Cubs Trade for Kevin Gregg
all that maybe true, but are we kicking ourselves that we don't have him anymore?
My point is that for every 1 Randy Johnson there are 100,000 Andy Sisco.
And at least with Ceda we got something for him.
Return to Homepage