Reliever Graveman joining team on 3-year, $24M contract
Deals are happening throughout baseball with the collective bargaining agreement set to expire late Wednesday.
The White Sox were in the mix Tuesday, officially announcing a three-year, $24 million contract with reliever Kendall Graveman and also reportedly bringing back infielder/outfielder Leury García on a three-year deal. The financial terms of García’s contract, first reported by Jon Heyman of MLB Network and Audacy Sports, were not disclosed.
Although a lockout is looming, Graveman said he didn’t set a deadline on when to sign.
“I felt I put together a good enough body of work that I could get a job even if it was after and we had to wait,” Graveman said during a conference call. “Personally there is a lot that goes into the right deal.
“A winning organization was something I wanted first and foremost, and you’d be remiss to say the dollar amount doesn’t matter, but at the end of the day it does. (General manager) Rick Hahn and the White Sox were willing to step up to the plate and create a contract I felt was suitable for myself and my family.”
The right-hander, who turns 31 on Dec. 21, gives the Sox another important late-inning option in the bullpen. The team has some open slots with Michael Kopech likely moving back to the rotation and Ryan Tepera a free agent.
Graveman excelled in that role in 2021 with the Seattle Mariners and Houston Astros, posting a combined 5-1 record with a 1.77 ERA and 61 strikeouts in 53 relief appearances. He was 4-0 with a 0.82 ERA, 34 strikeouts and 10 saves in 30 outings with the Mariners and 1-1 with a 3.13 ERA and 27 strikeouts in 23 appearances with the Astros.
“Kendall is a veteran who provides us with end-of-game bullpen depth and an ability to induce ground balls,” Hahn said in a statement. “He’s a high-character guy and a great teammate who will fit well within our clubhouse and bullpen.”
Graveman appeared in nine games in the 2021 postseason for the Astros, going 1-0 with a 1.64 ERA and 11 strikeouts in 11 innings.
“I learned that every out is magnified in the postseason,” Graveman said. “I learned that there’s no need to panic and I think that a young team has a tendency ... when their backs are against the wall or you’re down a few games, to stress and (put) extra stress on every pitch instead of going out and having fun and just playing the game the way you have throughout 162.
“That’s one thing I learned when I was with the Astros. Those guys continued to play and act like it was a regular-season game, even in the situation that ... we found ourselves down a few games to the Red Sox (in the American League Championship Series). I want to carry that forward and that’s who I want to be in the postseasons to come.”
Heyman initially reported Graveman’s impending signing Nov. 23.
Graveman joins a Sox bullpen led by closer Liam Hendriks, the 2021 AL Mariano Rivera Reliever of the Year. The Sox are debating the best fit for Craig Kimbrel — either keeping him or making a trade — after exercising a $16 million option for 2022. Lefthanders Aaron Bummer and Garrett Crochet are also among the mainstays.
“One thing that listening to hitters from both (Seattle and Houston) was how good and how electric and how special some of the arms in the (Sox) bullpen are,” Graveman said. “Also understanding at the same time that there is some youth in that bullpen.
“That’s one thing that really excited me about coming also is to be able to work alongside Liam but also be able to express my knowledge and my experience of playing baseball at the big-league level to some guys in the bullpen.”
Graveman is the first big addition for the Sox this offseason. Second base is another spot where the team needs help, and García will aid in that department.
The 30-year-old has been with the Sox since 2013 and played second, shortstop, third and all three outfield positions. García slashed .267./335/.376 with five home runs and 54 RBIs in 126 games in 2021.
He started at second in the first two games of the AL Division Series against the Astros and started in right field in Games 3 and 4. He went 3-for-15 with a double, home run and four RBIs in four games. The home run, a threerun blast, came in the 12-6 Game 3 victory.
García has a .259/.302/.364 career slash line with 31 home runs and 181 RBIs in 604 games with the Texas Rangers (2013) and Sox (2013-present).
“His versatility, his availability has value,” Hahn said of García on Nov. 9 at the GM meetings in Carlsbad, Calif. “It will likely have value in the market to others as well. I think all teams are guilty of becoming a little bit biased in favor of their guys, whether it’s guys you drafted or guys like Leury who were with us for a long time.
“But we certainly see his value, and he played an important role on a team that was banged up last year. His ability to fill in competently at different spots was important.”