Mariners Sign Starter Kendall Graveman After Wasted Year on Cubs
By Adam Weinrib
A former AL West rival is now going on his third year of looking for a fresh start, and he'll find an opportunity in Seattle.
After two durable years in Oakland, followed by an up-and-down 2017, the wheels fell off for Kendall Graveman in '18, felled by reconstructive elbow surgery. After latching on with the Cubs last season, but never recovering, he'll give pitching another try with the 2020 Mariners on a "prove it" deal, after the Cubs declined his option.
Graveman, 28, spent most of 2019 rehabbing from Tommy John surgery before making two minor-league appearances in September. The #Cubs declined his $3M option at the end of the season. https://t.co/9Ywzv8iQ5h
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) November 26, 2019
Prior to the injury, Graveman was a bit of a throwback, subsisting mostly on guile -- his low strikeout numbers (never above 108 total in a 186-inning season) set off alarm bells in the modern game, especially when seemingly everyone whiffs at a massive rate.
But Graveman, whether lucky or good, posted ERAs in the low-4.00s for every healthy season of his career, and is worth a try in spacious T-Mobile Park.
Kendall Graveman also can earn $1.5M in incentives in each year of his new deal with #Mariners, per source. One year, $1.5M guarantee for 2020, $3.5M club option for ‘21.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) November 26, 2019
After all, the Cubs saw something. Why wouldn't the M's take a chance, and pick up a potential trade asset at low cost in the process?