Bob Nightengale of USA Today reports that the Houston Astros have agreed to sign reliever Luke Gregerson to a three-year, $18.5 million deal – and are closing in on signing fellow reliever Pat Neshek and his funny delivery:

Gregerson’s deal is the second-largest financial commitment the club has made under the reign of GM Jeff Luhnow, trailing only the three-year, $30 million deal given to starting pitcher Scott Feldman.

But in guaranteeing big money to a relief pitcher, the Astros are showing that competing won’t merely be enough in 2015.

They set franchise records for losses in consecutive seasons when they lost 106, 107 and 111 games from 2011-2013. But they lost just 92 games last year, many due to a leaky bullpen.

Gregerson was with the A’s last season, while Neshek pitched for the Cardinals.