Mariners add another arm to rotation mix, sign former A’s starter to 1-year deal
After losing more than a season of his big-league career to recovery from Tommy John surgery, former Oakland A’s starter Kendall Graveman is ready to bounce back with a new American League West club.
The 28-year-old right-hander, who declared free agency earlier this month, signed a one-year deal with the Seattle Mariners on Tuesday, and is a candidate for Seattle’s starting rotation this spring.
“I know the work that’s been put in (during the rehab process), and it is a way for me to prove (myself), to get back and compete,” Graveman said during a conference call Tuesday. “I believe in my heart that I’m a big-league pitcher and I can get big-league hitters out.”
The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal reported Tuesday morning Seattle had signed Graveman to a one-year, $1.5 million contract, which includes a $3.5 million club option or $500,000 buyout for the 2021 season. He can also earn $1.5 million in incentives, Rosenthal reported. The Mariners confirmed the deal several hours later.
Graveman’s addition brings Seattle’s 40-man roster to 38 players and he could potentially fill one of the rotation holes left by departed veterans Felix Hernandez, Wade LeBlanc and Tommy Milone. Seattle’s projected rotation for the 2020 season currently includes returners Marco Gonzales and Yusei Kikuchi, and likely Justus Sheffield and Justin Dunn, who were promoted late last summer as rookies.
Graveman said he chose Seattle over other opportunities in part because of how the organization is retooling its roster with young talent.
“There’s opportunity here to pitch and compete,” Graveman said. “I think for me, I experienced that a little bit in Oakland. To see the team Oakland has put together now, we were a bunch of young guys a few years ago, and I have that same feeling with Seattle.
“There’s no secret Seattle hasn’t been to the playoffs in (almost) 20 years. ... I want to come into this organization and help this organization win.”
With the A’s from 2015-18, Graveman was a regular in the rotation his first three seasons, posting a 23-29 record and 4.38 ERA over 78 starts. He was Oakland’s Opening Day starter in 2017 and 2018.
He underwent elbow surgery midway through 2018 and joined the Cubs for the 2019 season as a free agent, though he did not appear in a big-league game.
“Kendall is a great bounce-back candidate,” Mariners general manager Jerry Dipoto said in a release. “His makeup is off the charts, and we’ve done a fair bit of homework on him from his time in Oakland and more recently in Chicago. He was a work horse, ground ball-oriented pitcher, with whom we saw a velocity spike prior to his Tommy John surgery.
“We really trust him and his ability to consistently throw strikes. At 28 years old, he has the ability to stay in our system for a period of time and gives us something to look forward to.”
In two rehab starts in Chicago’s minor-league system late in the summer, Graveman pitched six innings, allowing two runs on five hits while striking out eight and walking one.
“Having the surgery last July, over a year ago, it was a season of growth and learning about myself, but the elbow is doing great,” Graveman said. “I pitched last (season) in rehab starts and finished the year and felt like the ball was coming out very well.”
Prior to his surgery, Graveman was a power-heavy pitcher who relied on forcing hitters into ground balls. His sinker, which was averaging 93.6 mph before his surgery, is his primary pitch. He wants to display the same qualities when he returns to the mound.
“When I’m at my best, I induce ground balls and let my defense perform behind me,” Graveman said.
He also worked on his change-up before his injury, particularly in higher usage against right-handed hitters, and expects it to be a more beneficial pitch than it has been earlier in his career.
“To continue that in my rehab was something that I feel really comfortable with now,” Graveman said. “I think it’s going to really help my game, and I think it’s going to change who I can be and how well I can perform.”
Graveman is the second addition to Seattle’s pitching staff in as many days. The Mariners acquired left-hander Nestor Cortes Jr. from the Yankees on Monday. They are expected to make at least one more move this week.
This story was originally published November 26, 2019 at 9:21 AM.
