Kevin Gregg ready for any role in Reds' bullpen but one

GOODYEAR, Ariz. — Kevin Gregg has done pretty much every job in the bullpen — except one.

"I've never been a lefty specialist," he said.

That would be difficult since Gregg is right-handed. Gregg, 38, was one of the last three players to sign with the Reds before camp. The club added Gregg on Feb. 7. Gregg came in on a minor-league contract.

It's your typical low-risk, potential-high-reward signing.

"That type of a signing, sometimes proves to pay the biggest dividends with the bullpen pieces," Reds manager Bryan Price said. "A lot of times, those relievers are sitting out there late in the offseason."

The Reds were able to get Gregg on a minor-league deal because a) he was coming off an injury and b) 2014 turned out to be a lost year for him. Gregg put up a 3.48 ERA and saved 33 games for the Chicago Cubs in 2013.

But he did not get so much as a minor-league contract with an invite to camp last spring. He ended up signing with the Miami Marlins in June.

"I kind of worked my way through their minor-league system," he said. "Pitched for them a few times. I'm an older pitcher. I've been around a long time. I had some bone chips in my elbow. I broke a couple of them loose. They were floating in the joint. When that happens, you can't pitch and you can't pitch successfully.

He made 12 appearances and posted a 10.00 ERA before being shut down with a sore elbow. He ended up having surgery to remove bone chips. It was a relatively minor procedure.

"Technically of all the things you could do to your elbow, that's pretty minor," he said. "You're just cleaning some loose bodies out of there. You look at it like a tune-up."

Typically, pitchers can come back from that after six weeks. In Gregg's case, it would have meant returning for the last week or so of the season, so he shut it down for the year.

"It made the most sense to prolong things," he said. "I rested even longer. I started my rehab and let it get strong before I start my rehab program and went from there."

Gregg says he's 100 percent. Teams, of course, had to be convinced of that. He threw for scouts in early February.

He had several offers, but he felt the Reds were the best fit after talking to general manager Walt Jocketty.

"Talking to Walt, knowing Bryan Price from the past, crossing paths with him earlier in my career. I never played for him or with him, but I got to know him," Gregg said. "It's an organization that underachieved last year because of some health issues.

"A lot of people see a real quality club here in a division that's going to be competitive. It's a chance to win."

Price liked what he saw from Gregg in Chicago.

"I think the other part that bodes well – I know he was up in Toronto – getting a chance to see him in Chicago when he was healthy and throwing the ball well didn't hurt," Price said. "We know within the last couple of years, what type of pitcher he has been. He's been a closer. He's been a set-up guy. He's been a starter early in his career. I couldn't be happier. I wasn't sure exactly what we were getting post-surgery from Kevin but from what I've seen in the bullpen, he's where he should be for a healthy pitcher in camp."

Gregg was a closer from 2007 to '13. Gregg, by the way, is an intimidating presence on the mound. At 6-foot-6, 245 pounds, he looks like a linebacker. But he knows he's not a closer for the Reds with Aroldis Chapman in the fold.

"Aroldis, you're out," he said. "No, I'm just kidding. That's whole reason I came here. I know Chappy is here. Bullpens are different things . . . I get that. I can do anything and will do anything they ask me and go from there."