TORONTO — Reliever Kevin Gregg agreed Friday to a $2.75 million, one-year contract with the Toronto Blue Jays, a deal that could be worth $11.5 million over three seasons.
Toronto has a $4.5 million option for 2011 or an option for 2011 and 2012 that would pay $8.75 million over two seasons.
Gregg was 5-6 with 23 saves and a 4.72 ERA for the Chicago Cubs last year.
The 31-year-old reliever has 84 saves over the past three seasons with the Cubs and Florida Marlins, and is expected to stabilize the back end of the Toronto bullpen.
He'll compete with relievers Scott Downs and Jason Frasor, who are both eligible for free agency after the season. The closer's job has been open since the Blue Jays released B.J. Ryan.
"We expect him to pitch late in the game," Blue Jays general manager Alex Anthopoulos said. adding that manager Cito Gaston will make the final determination. "We don't have anybody who we've anointed the closer right now. Kevin Gregg has had a lot of closing experience – he's certainly not going to be handed the job, but he'll have every opportunity to compete for that role."
Downs and Frasor are eligible for free agency after the season.
"I anticipate going into camp with the number of arms that we do have," Anthopoulos said. "We still continue to talk to clubs about various trades. We have a lot of irons in the fire with respect to trades and also free agent signings, but for me to characterize what I think the likelihood of us doing anything prior to reporting to camp, it's very hard to say."