Graveman has benign tumor in his spine

Seattle Mariners righthander Kendall Graveman, who pitched for the A’s from 201518, said Monday that he has a benign tumor in his cervical spine but intends to continue pitching.

Graveman, who spoke after making a rehab outing, started this season in Seattle’s rotation and made two starts before going on the injured list because of a neck spasm.

He said the symptoms first developed in 2018 and a diagnosis of the tumor came last season while he was recovering from Tommy John surgery in the Chicago Cubs organization. He said the location of the tumor makes it difficult to do a surgical procedure.

“It has been lingering for about close to two years now. It helps with medicine, but still the whole process has been trial and error. So that’s what we’re dealing with,” Graveman said. “I’ve seen plenty of specialists. I’ve seen numerous doctors. There is a procedure that is a possibility, maybe something that later on down the road we’ll check into. But just going out there competing with it is the only thing right now that we can do, and continue to work through it.” Coronavirus updates: The Reds scheduled a flight to Kansas City, Mo., for early Tuesday to begin a twogame series against the Royals that was put in doubt after a Cincinnati player tested positive for the coronavirus over the weekend.

Players, coaches and other organization members were retested for the virus Saturday and Sunday after one player was sidelined because of a positive result. The final two games of a series against the Pirates at Great American Ball Park were postponed.

The Yankees activated reliever Aroldis Chapman from the COVID19 IL, as he has recovered from the coronavirus.

Chapman tested positive for the virus July 11, but experienced only mild symptoms and constructed a weight room in his Manhattan apartment to stay in shape while quarantined.

The White Sox placed outfielder Adam Engel on the COVID19 IL because he may have come into contact with someone with the coronavirus, though Engel has not tested positive, general manager Rick Hahn told the Athletic. Injury report: Padres outfielder Tommy Pham will have surgery for a broken hamate in his left hand, a procedure that will sideline him for at least four weeks, the San Diego Union Tribune reported . ... Yankees second baseman DJ LeMahieu, who leads the American League with a .411 batting average, is expected to be sidelined for 23 weeks because of a thumb injury, manager Aaron Boone said. Briefly: Casey Mize, the No. 1 pick in the 2018 draft, will be promoted and start for the Tigers against the White Sox on Wednesday, GM Al Avila said. Mize has not pitched above DoubleA. ... The Pirates signed Jandel Gustave, who pitched in 23 games for the Giants last season.