Report: Cardinals agree to 2-year, $11M deal with Gregerson

On the same day the Chicago Cubs beefed up their bullpen by reportedly signing right-hander Brandon Morrow to a two-year deal, the St. Louis Cardinals made a move of their own.

The Cardinals agreed to a two-year, $11-million contract with right-hander Luke Gregerson, sources confirmed to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic. The contract includes a vesting option and is pending a physical.

After cutting ties with veteran relievers Seung Hwan Oh, Trevor Rosenthal, and Kevin Siegrist, the Cardinals entered the offseason searching for upgrades in the bullpen. The 33-year-old addresses one area of need, since he has a wealth of experience as a setup man and middle reliever.

Gregerson took a step back in 2017 with the Houston Astros, pitching to a 4.57 ERA and a 1.34 WHIP with 70 strikeouts. Last year aside, Gregerson was one of the Astros' most reliable and durable arms. In 123 games combined in 2015 and 2016, he pitched to a 3.19 ERA and 2.92 FIP with 46 converted saves in a brief stint as the club's closer.

The veteran earned $6.25 million with the Astros last season. He's never appeared in fewer than 59 games in a campaign throughout his nine-year career.