Orioles released RHP Kevin Gregg.

Gregg was designated for assignment earlier this week. He might have to settle for a minor league deal this winter after a miserable couple years in Baltimore.

Orioles designated RHP Kevin Gregg for assignment.

O's fans have reason to celebrate, as Gregg was finally given the boot Tuesday in order to make room for L.J. Hoes on the 40-man roster. The 34-year-old right-hander was a huge bust his two-year, $10 million contract with the club, posting a 4.53 ERA and 90/64 K/BB ratio in 103 1/3 innings.

Dan Connolly of the Baltimore Sun hears that Kevin Gregg has left Camden Yards.

The reason why he left isn't yet clear, but L.J. Hoes is in the clubhouse. Hoes isn't on the 40-man roster, so the Orioles would have to make a corresponding move. Gregg gave up four runs (three earned) over one inning in his most recent appearance on Sunday and has a 4.74 ERA and 37/24 K/BB ratio over 43 2/3 innings this season.

Kevin Gregg has yielded eight hits and five earned runs through 4 2/3 innings this season.

Gregg has also walked five batters against just two strikeouts and is sporting a 9.64 ERA. It's safe to wonder whether the 33-year-old right-hander will have a major league job by the middle of this summer.

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.

Kevin Gregg earned his 16th save of the season in Saturday's 3-2 defeat of the Angels.

Gregg allowed one hit and struck out one while protecting the Orioles' narrow lead. He's been far from dominant or even reliable this season, but the 33-year-old right-hander should remain in the ninth inning role for the foreseeable future. The O's are expected to trade setup man Koji Uehara before next week's deadline.

Kevin Gregg was reinstated from his suspension on Friday July 22.

Kevin Gregg allowed three earned runs while getting only two outs Saturday against the Indians.

Mike Gonzalez entered the 6-5 game in relief of Gregg and locked up his first save of the season. Gregg has been shaky all year, but has also managed to cling to the Orioles' ninth inning role. And we're not expecting that to change.

Kevin Gregg was suspended for four games and fined an undisclosed amount for his involvement in a benches-clearing incident against the Red Sox on July 8.

Gregg incited the incident by jawing at David Ortiz after repeatedly throwing inside during an at-bat. Not surprisingly, he plans to appeal the suspension. Orioles reliever Jim Johnson was also fined an undisclosed amount for his actions during the mini-fracas.

Kevin Gregg was ejected from Friday's game against the Red Sox in the bottom of the eighth inning.

The whole incident began when Gregg threw three inside pitches to David Ortiz. Benches cleared, but order was quickly restored. Ortiz eventually flew out to center field to end the at-bat, but Gregg had some words for the veteran slugger as he came out of the batter's box. That's when the real action began. Ortiz charged the mound and punches were thrown by both players. Fortunately none of them landed. Gregg and Jim Johnson were ejected on the Orioles' side while Ortiz and Jarrod Saltalamacchia were tossed on the Boston side. MLB will certainly have something to say about this incident.

Kevin Gregg has a 2.70 ERA this month.

There are better fantasy closers, but Gregg is certainly useful and seems to have a decent-sized grasp on the gig. He earned his 14th save of the year Sunday.