Kevin Gregg allowed a run in an inning out of the pen Friday against the Red Sox. Jim Johnson's early spring injury and subsequent slow start have opened the door for Gregg, but he hasn't exactly jumped through it while allowing three runs in five innings. The Orioles would still prefer to shed a portion of his salary by trading him.

Kevin Gregg began his spring by giving up a two-run homer to Matt Hague in an inning of work Monday against the Pirates. Matt Lindstrom wasn't any better, giving up three runs (two earned) on three hits and a walk. Gregg gave up two hits and the long ball, but he was at least able to strike out the side. The O's would probably love to unload the 33-year-old right-hander after he posted a 4.37 ERA and 53/40 K/BB ratio over 59 2/3 innings last season, but that's unlikely to happen as he's owed $5.8 million this season. Jim Johnson is the favorite to close games for Baltimore.

The Orioles would eat a portion of the $5.8 million owed to Kevin Gregg this season if they found a willing suitor, according to MASN Sports. Baltimore won't consider placing Gregg back in the ninth inning, according to the report. The Orioles could even push him to the seventh inning. Gregg posted a 4.37 ERA last season, though he had a late-season surge when pushed into a low-leverage situation. The veteran was slapped around to the tune of a 1.64 WHIP while producing a 53/40 K/BB rate over 59 2/3 innings.

Kevin Gregg picked up his 21st save of the season with a clean ninth inning in Thursday's win over the Tigers. Jim Johnson had pitched three days in a row, so Gregg got a shot in his old role. He's now converted just 21 of 28 opportunities on the year while holding an ugly 4.53 ERA and 1.66 WHIP. Gregg is under contract for next season, but the O's seem likely to go in another direction with the ninth inning.

Kevin Gregg earned his 19th save of the season in Sunday's 2-0 defeat of the Yankees. Gregg allowed a hit but struck out one and induced two groundballs to alleviate the ninth-inning threat. The veteran right-hander has registered a rough 4.32 ERA and 1.58 WHIP in 50 innings this season, but he's still fairly secure at closer.

Kevin Gregg rebounded from a miserable stretch on Monday, tossing a perfect inning to earn his 18th save. He certainly stepped up following Orioles manager Buck Showalter's vote of confidence, though the Twins made it easy on him by forcing him to throw only eight pitches. Over his previous four appearances, Gregg had pitched a total of two innings while surrendering seven earned runs on nine hits and three walks. Monday's redemptive effort accounted for only his fourth save since June 27.

Orioles manager Buck Showalter said Kevin Gregg will remain his closer. Gregg blew his fifth save of the season Saturday, when he gave up three runs -- two earned -- in the extra-innings loss to the Angels. He now has a pedestrian 4.60 ERA and 1.64 WHIP for the season, but Showalter feels as though he has no other options for the ninth inning. With Jim Johnson being groomed to start, he's probably right.

Kevin Gregg took his fifth blown save after giving up three runs -- two earned -- in the 12th inning Saturday against the Angels. This one had to be awfully demoralizing for the Orioles. They grabbed a two-run lead in the top of the 12th, only to give it back and then lose the game. Gregg has given up eight runs -- seven earned -- over two innings in his last four appearances. The Orioles don't really have anyone else to try in the closer's role with Koji Uehara gone, but maybe they'll go to a committee anyway. Jim Johnson is the Orioles' best reliever and could be in line for some save chances, even though the team is grooming him for a rotation spot next year.

Kevin Gregg endured one of the season's worst ninth inning meltdowns, surrendering four earned runs after failing to retire any of the six hitters he faced. Gregg took the mound with an 8-1 lead to start the ninth inning. After loading the bases on three singles, he walked in two runs before giving up another single to wrap up his day. Jim Johnson took over and promptly stopped the bleeding, earning his second save. Gregg had been nearly perfect in his five previous appearances. He now has a 4.20 ERA and very ugly 1.58 WHIP.

The Diamondbacks are looking to add an arm or two to the bullpen, and Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic thinks the Orioles' Koji Uehara and/or Kevin Gregg could be at the top of the list. The D'Backs don't want to give up any major prospects but have the flexibility to add some payroll, so the two Orioles relievers, who are owed $9.8 million between them next season, could be a fit. Uehara will take more to acquire, but Gregg could come relatively cheaply given his salary for 2012 ($5.8 million) and mediocre production (3.69 ERA, 1.56 WHIP). The A's Grant Balfour could also be of interest, though it doesn't look like Oakland is eager to part with him.