The Houston Astros wanted a top reliever, a sentiment we questioned yesterday. Today, they got him, inking former Oakland Athletic Luke Gregerson to a three-year, $18.5 million deal.
Luke Gregerson reaches 3 year, $18.5 million deal with Houston #Astros; becoming 3rd richest reliever in #MLB this winter.
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) December 10, 2014
The A’s acquired Gregerson last winter from the Padres for Seth Smith, and he put together a typically solid season in Oakland. In 72 1/3 innings, he pitched to a 2.12 ERA, striking out 59 and walking 15. He also generated a strong 52.2% ground ball rate, a trait that will help him a ton in Minute Maid Park.
I think people want to question this signing just because it’s the Astros. The fact of the matter is that this team had a 4.80 bullpen ERA in 2014, and their attempt to strengthen the pen by buying low on Chad Qualls, Matt Albers, and Jesse Crain blew up in their face when Albers and Crain combined to throw just ten innings (all by Albers).
Adding Gregerson to a pen that includes Josh Fields (who had a 2.32 ERA and a 55:10 strikeout to walk ratio after getting shelled on May 6th), Qualls, and Tony Sipp makes the cohort a lot stronger in 2015, and much less reliant on below replacement level arms like Paul Clemens, Josh Zeid, or Anthony Bass (all of whom will be pitching elsewhere in 2015).
