The Cincinnati Reds have added two veteran relievers to help strenghten their bullpen by signing Kevin Gregg and Burke Badenhop to one-year contracts. MLB.com's Mark Sheldon reports that the Reds have signed Gregg to a Minor League contract that includes an invitation to Spring Training while also inking Badenhop to a one-year, $1 million contract that also includes a mutual option for 2016.
Gregg will have to earn a rotation spot with a very solid performance in Spring Training, but he will first have to prove himself healthy. After pitching in only 12 games for the Miami Marlins last season, he experienced elbow problems that eventually led to season-ending surgery in August. The surgery was to remove bone chips from his throwing elbow. Before the injury, Gregg pitched a total of nine innings; he allowed nearly two base runners per inning and a total of 10 earned runs.
Gregg was an effective closer in two stints with the Chicago Cubs in 2009 and 2013 and the then-Florida Marlins from 2007-2008. He has 177 career saves to go along with a 30-44 record and 4.15 ERA in his 12 years almost exclusively as a reliever. He had a very solid 2013 for the last-place Cubs: 3.48 ERA and 33 saves in 62 appearances.
Meanwhile, Badenhop, another former Marlin, is coming off a terrific 2014 season with the last-place Boston Red Sox. Last year, he posted a record of 0-3 but with a 2.29 ERA, 1.26 WHIP, 1 save, and a 1.5 WAR in 70 appearances. His $1-million salary pretty much guarantees him a spot in the Reds' bullpen barring a major collapse. Sheldon notes that his contract includes a $1.5-million buyout should he and the team not exercise the $4-million mutual option for 2016. Either way, he will get more at that time than he will pitching in 2015.
Sheldon also notes that Reds general manager Walt Jockety plans to use Badenhop in multiple roles, which might include setup, middle relief, or mop-up duties. However, with Arodlis Chapman closing, the Reds may not give Badenhop much opportunity to add to his career saves total of four.