Blue Jays Rumors: Luke Gregerson a Bullpen Option?

Looking for Blue Jays rumors during this quiet time? Well, there may be one out there that is pure rumor. Could the Blue Jays be interested in signing free agent Luke Gregerson for their bullpen? According to YankeesNews26, they very well could be:

Now, before we go any further, we have to acknowledge the question that was asked twice, here. Source? I would really need to hear it from a more mainstream “news” source, preferably a Canadian one, before I get too excited.

However, this may actually make sense for the Blue Jays. We all know they’re in need of some bullpen help. Gregerson could provide that. His K/9 rate is pretty good. I also love how he lowered his BB/9 rate in each of the last few years. He was worth 1.6 WAR with a 2.12 ERA last season as a 30 year old. While he’s only amassed 19 saves in his 6 seasons, he may be a potential fit for the later innings as a right handed option. Alex Anthopoulos has stated in the past that they may bring in someone with closer experience to compete for the role. Does 19 saves count as experience?

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Gregerson pitched for the Padres for the first 5 seasons of his career and for Oakland last season where he made $5M. Last season, batters hit a .242 average that was helped out by a BABIP of .289, which is his highest since 2011. He chipped in a WHIP of 1.009 and stranded 82.3% of base runners. He features predominantly a fastball/ slider combination with a changeup and rare curve. His fastball has dropped in velocity since his debut in 2009 from 91.2 to holding steady at 88.1 mph.

To me, this would be a great addition to a shaky bullpen. While he’ll be seeking a multi-year deal with a possible raise from his $5M salary, it might be more than the Blue Jays are willing to spend. He would certainly not be an Andrew Miller, who the Blue Jays have been linked to, but he may be a strikeout guy who can stay within the strike zone, which they desperately need. And, considering the cost for an Andrew Miller, Gregerson would certainly be a bargain.

Year Tm W L ERA G GF SV IP H ER BB SO ERA+ WHIP BB9 SO9 2009 SDP 2 4 3.24 72 7 1 75.0 62 27 31 93 117 1.240 3.7 11.2 2010 SDP 4 7 3.22 80 9 2 78.1 47 28 18 89 114 0.830 2.1 10.2 2011 SDP 3 3 2.75 61 11 0 55.2 57 17 19 34 130 1.365 3.1 5.5 2012 SDP 2 0 2.39 77 15 9 71.2 57 19 21 72 152 1.088 2.6 9.0 2013 SDP 6 8 2.71 73 17 4 66.1 49 20 18 64 126 1.010 2.4 8.7 2014 OAK 5 5 2.12 72 17 3 72.1 58 17 15 59 176 1.009 1.9 7.3

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 11/23/2014.

Until we hear this from one of our regular sources of news, we shouldn’t put too much stock in it. But, it does present an interesting idea to ponder. Gregerson may actually be a good option for the Blue Jays in their efforts to revamp their bullpen.

Thanks to our friends at BaseballReference.com & FanGraphs.com for the info.