Gregerson was perfect Monday for his first save with Houston.

He needed just six pitches to record one strikeout and three outs in the ninth inning and is off to a great start with the Astros.

Gregerson was named the Astros closer Tuesday, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

Gregerson entered camp competing with Chad Qualls and Pat Neshek for the closer role, and a strong spring performance (1.59 ERA and four strikeouts in six appearances) appears to have been enough to convince manager A.J. Hinch. The move definitely improves Gregerson's fantasy value as he figures to receive regular save opportunities for the first time in his career.

Gregerson, who is in the mix to close out games for the Astros this season, has a 2.25 ERA and 3:1 K:BB through four Grapefruit League innings thus far.

Astros manager A.J. Hinch isn't ready to announce his closer, but Gregerson has been one of the most dependable relievers in baseball for six straight seasons and would be a middle-tier fantasy option for saves if he beats out Chad Qualls (0.00 spring ERA) and Pat Neshek (3.00 ERA) for the job.

Gregerson is expected to compete with Chad Qualls and Pat Neshek for the Astros' closer role this spring.

Gregerson, who is Houston's highest paid reliever after signing a three-year deal with the team in December, has 19 career saves and leads MLB with 435 appearances over the last six seasons. Whether he earns the closer role or not, he'll be heavily relied upon to improve Houston's 30th ranked bullpen (4.80 ERA) from 2014.

Gregerson agreed to a three-year, $18.5 million contract with the Astros on Wednesday, Bob Nightengale of USA Today reports.

Despite the Astros' lack of attractive bullpen arms, it's not believed that Gregerson will compete for closing duties. The team should clarify his exact role as the winter progresses, but at the very least, Gregerson should immediately become the team's most dependable arm at the back end of the bullpen. The right-hander has been one of baseball's elite middle relievers since reaching the big leagues in 2009, accumulating a career 2.75 ERA and 8.8 K/9 rate.

Gregerson took the loss Wednesday, giving up two hits and a walk in the eighth inning to blow a 1-0 lead against the White Sox.

Gregerson wasn't hit extremely hard, but was victimized by a Carlos Sanchez single, botched double-play attempt, intentional walk to load the bases and a go-ahead two-run single by Avisail Garcia. The setup man was thought to potentially get some ninth inning work this week after interim closer Eric O'Flaherty had some shaky outings, but he again pitched the eighth inning.

Gregerson took the loss on Tuesday night, blowing a 2-1 lead in the eighth inning by allowing a mammoth three-run homer to Chris Carter.

Gregerson was thought to maybe be the closer with the injury to Sean Doolittle, but Manager Bob Melvin decided to keep Gregerson in his eighth inning role. Gregerson has been great this year prior to the loss on Tuesday and his ERA on the year still sits at 2.44 with a sparkling WHIP under 1.00.

Gregerson will likely be left in the eighth inning role, despite Sean Doolittle being placed on the DL with an oblique injury, the San Francisco Chronicle's Susan Slusser reports.

Manager Bob Melvin said he wants to keep people with defined roles in those roles, and the general consensus among the A's beat writers was that Eric O'Flaherty will be the fill-in closer, which lessens the appeal of Gregerson as a speculative add for saves.

Gregerson's teammate Sean Doolittle felt a pain in his side following Saturday's game, one in which Gregerson got the win after pitching a scoreless eighth inning.

If Doolittle can't go Sunday, Gregerson could be in line for the next save chance. After a dicey stretch earlier this year, Gregerson has been great for the A's, posting a 2.17 ERA, 0.983 WHIP and 48:12 K:BB in 58 innings. He's had a handful of saves over the years, so pitching the ninth won't be a foreign experience for him should the occasion arise.

Luke Gregerson allowed two runs on three hits to blow his third save in Tuesday's 5-4 setback against the Rangers.

It could have been worse. Pinch-hitter Mitch Moreland blasted a double to lead off the ninth. Skipper Ron Washington had Robinson Chirinos lay down a bunt to get Moreland to third, and he called a risky suicide squeeze with Leonys Martin up. Martin's bunt came right back to Gregerson, who made a nifty shuffle to Derek Norris to nail Moreland, who may or may not have missed a sign. With two outs, Gregerson hung a pitch that Josh Wilson hammered for a game-tying double, and then Michael Choice singled him in. Gregerson is 3-for-6 in save conversions, and has punted two of his last three, so you have to wonder if Jim Johnson will enter the ninth inning the next time Oakland has a save opportunity.

Luke Gregerson earned his third save of the season in Sunday's win over the Astros.

Gregerson threw a scoreless ninth inning, striking out one, for the save. He's got a 1.69 ERA and 0.75 WHIP through 10 2/3 innings and although A's manager Bob Melvin has committed to a closer-by-committee, Gregerson has the kind of stuff to be an effective closer. For now, though, he simply remains a player to watch until the situation in Oakland becomes clearer.

Luke Gregerson blew his second save of the season by coughing up a ninth inning run Wednesday in a loss to the Angels.

Nursing a 4-3 lead, Gregerson was brought on to finish things out against the top of Los Angeles' lineup. He didn't have trouble with J.B. Shuck, but consecutive singles put Mike Trout on third and Albert Pujols on first. Howie Kendrick's fielder's choice tied the game before Gregerson was able to escape. Gregerson and Sean Doolittle, the committee appointed to replace Jim Johnson, have both blown saves in the past few days, and Johnson is pitching well again, so one wonders if Bob Melvin is going to get the $10 million man back into the ninth inning the next time Oakland has a save opportunity. It isn't like Gregerson has been bad or anything. He owns a 1.86 ERA and 0.83 WHIP and hadn't given up a run since April 2 prior to this evening.

Luke Gregerson earned the save for a second consecutive day by hurling a perfect ninth inning Monday against the Angels.

Jim Johnson tossed a scoreless eighth inning when Oakland trailed 2-1, and Gregerson was given the save chance after John Jaso cranked a two-run homer off Ernest Frieri in the top of the ninth. That turn of events also gave Johnson his first 2014 victory (against two losses). Gregerson and the southpaw Sean Doolittle will continue to swap save chances until Bob Melvin regains confidence in Jim Johnson, who is up to three straight scoreless innings.

After Sean Doolittle did the heavy-lifting, Luke Gregerson retired two of the four Mariners he faced to earn a save on Saturday.

Doolittle pitched a perfect eighth and then retired Kyle Seager to start the ninth. However, after the Mariners decided to pinch-hit Willie Bloomquist for Logan Morrison, the A's countered with Gregerson. He went on to allow back-to-back singles but then struck out Michael Saunders and induced a groundout from John Buck to end it. It's pretty much a free-for-all for saves in the Oakland pen right now, but after Jim Johnson's impressive showing Friday, he might get another try in the ninth within a week or two.

Luke Gregerson allowed four runs in a third of an inning during Monday's 8-8 tie with the Dodgers.

Gregerson didn't have his best stuff, allowing the four runs on four hits and two walks. Regardless, Gregerson will pitch plenty of seventh and eighth innings bridging the gap to closer Jim Johnson.

Athletics avoided arbitration with RHP Luke Gregerson by agreeing to a one-year, $5.065 million contract.

It was the final time that Gregerson was arbitration-eligible. The A's setup man boasts a 2.88 career ERA in 363 major league relief appearances.

Athletics acquired RHP Luke Gregerson from the Padres for OF Seth Smith.

It's been an active couple days for A's general manager Billy Beane. Gregerson has a cool 2.88 career ERA in 363 major league relief appearances and should do well as a setup man for new Oakland closer Jim Johnson.

With Huston Street unavailable, Luke Gregerson notched his fourth save of the season with a scoreless frame in Tuesday's win over the Pirates.

Gregerson issued a two-out walk to Neil Walker, but he got a third groundout of the inning to end it. The righty now holds a 2.83 ERA and 58/17 K/BB ratio over 60 1/3 frames this season. With Street due back Wednesday, Gregerson will slide back into a setup role.

The Padres decided to hang onto Luke Gregerson despite ample interest during Wednesday's deadline.

The 29-year-old has a 2.91 ERA and 39/9 K/BB ratio in 43 1/3 innings this season. He'll remain San Diego property next in 2014 but can hit free agency heading into 2015.

The Padres will not trade Luke Gregerson, according to Peter Gammons.

San Diego didn't need Gregerson to acquire Ian Kennedy, so they'll hold onto him. The 29-year-old has a 2.91 ERA and 39/9 K/BB ratio over 43 1/3 innings. He remains under team control through 2014.