Fox Sports Ken Rosenthal has broken the story that Marlin’s closer Kevin Gregg is now a member of the Cubs bullpen:
The Cubs, facing the possible loss of closer Kerry Wood, have acquired right-hander Kevin Gregg from the Marlins, according to major-league sources.
Gregg, 30, closed for the Marlins for most of last season, but the Cubs likely would use him as a bridge to a Carlos Marmol if Wood departed as a free agent.
Marmol would take over as the closer, with the Cubs likely using a number of relievers — including Gregg, Jeff Samardzija, Angel Guzman, Neal Cotts, and Kevin Hart — leading up to the ninth inning.
It is not yet known whom the Marlins will receive in return for Gregg.
The Marlins paid Kevin Gregg $2.5 M in 2008, he is arbitration eligible this year.
Update 3:25: The player traded for Gregg is prospect Jose Ceda. Cubs GM Jim Hendry has confirmed that the Cubs will part ways with Kerry Wood.
I think we all feel that Kerry is certainly deserving of a three- or four-year contract,” Hendry said. “He’s done everything this organization has asked for the last 14 years, been a warrior the last couple of years. He’s come back and health-wise stood the test of time, taken the ball every day we needed, and had no hang-ups, except for (missing one month with a blister injury).
“We’re just in a situation, as Kerry fully understands, that that length of deal, for the kind of salary he’d command right now, is not our first priority. We certainly have to finish our rotation, we have offensive situations to address, and by having the prominence that (Carlos) Marmol now brings to the table, it certainly doesn’t come before the other needs we have. We felt it was time Kerry goes out and does what’s best for him and his family, and gets a huge multi-year deal if possible.”
This marks the end of an era that began so promising back in 1998. Like most Cub fans I have been a big fan of Wood through the years, I had really hoped that they re-signed him. But this is a business and sometimes the best business moves are not the ones you make because of emotional ties. I will have more on Kerry Wood in a post about him in the next few days.
I’m agnostic on the Gregg/Ceda part of the deal; the only way that the trade is a clear ‘win’ for one side or the other is if Ceda becomes a top-shelf closer, and does so quickly. Otherwise, it’s a fungible swap of live arms with a difference in price, maybe mirroring the inexplicable decision to pay a two-dollar premium on a sixer of Heineken over a comparable domestic macrobrew. (@CCD: that’s a subtle hint to update the Beer o’ the Week column.)
As for Wood, I’m ok letting him go if he’s going to fetch a multi-year, eight figure deal somewhere, and wish him the best of luck. He’s already 31 — 31, and fuck, am I old — so what are the chances he’ll be well over the hill at the tail end of a deal like that? Sad that he couldn’t do more, but that’s show business, I guess.
Thanks Dave, I updated the beer o’ the week. I went for a local fave.