After Chicago Cubs decided to let him walk following the 2019 MLB season, veteran pitcher Kendall Graveman didn’t have to wait too long to land another job. Seattle Mariners announced on Tuesday that they have signed Graveman to a one year deal.
According to MLB Network’s Ken Rosenthal, the deal is worth $1.5 million while the Mariners will also have the chance to keep Graveman for 2021 with a $3.5 million club option. In case the team declines the option, the 28-year-old will be entitled to a $500,000 buyout package.
Graveman spent the 2019 MLB season with the Cubs but failed to play a single game as he was recovering from Tommy John surgery. At the end of the season, Chicago didn’t activate their option for 2020, making him a free agent.
Mariners are now hoping that they will get a quality starter on a discount price, which would fit perfectly with their rebuilding plan.
“Kendall is a great bounce-back candidate,” – said Mariners general manager Jerry Dipoto. “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 workhorse, ground ball-oriented pitcher, with whom we saw a velocity spike prior to his Tommy John surgery.”
Kendall Graveman made his MLB debut with Toronto Blue Rays in 2014 but spent most of his professional career with Oakland Athletics. Graveman made a total of 83 appearances as a pro, posting 23-29 record with 4.38 ERA and 286 strikeouts.
