The Diamondbacks are reportedly in settlement with veteran reliever Kendall Graveman on a one-year, $1.35MM deal. The signing continues to be pending a bodily. Graveman, a shopper of Sports activities One Athlete Administration, will earn $1.25MM this season and has a $100K buyout on a $5MM mutual possibility for the 2026 season. The deal consists of one other $1.95MM in efficiency bonuses. Arizona might want to create a 40-man roster spot when the deal is finalized.
Graveman, 34, missed the 2024 season whereas recovering from shoulder surgical procedure however had a robust run between the Mariners, Astros and White Sox throughout the three prior seasons. The previous starter moved to a reduction position late within the 2020 season after coming back from Tommy John surgical procedure and located quick success in a high-leverage position. From 2021-23, Graveman pitched 187 1/3 innings with a 2.74 ERA, 51 holds, 24 saves, a 24.5% strikeout charge and a ten.4% stroll charge.
Although final season was misplaced to shoulder troubles, Graveman was cleared to start throwing late final summer season. He progressed by way of a traditional offseason throwing and conditioning program and is prepared for spring coaching.
When he’s been wholesome, Graveman has relied upon an influence sinker sitting north of 96 mph, pairing that providing with an upper-80s slider and a lesser-used changeup that sits 89-90 mph. That heavy sinker has allowed him to constantly submit ground-ball charges comfortably north of fifty%. The proper-hander misplaced a little bit of life on all these pitches in 2023 and noticed his command erode significantly within the season’s second half, following a commerce from the White Sox again to the Astros.
It’s potential shoulder points contributed to each these pink flags, in fact. It’ll be telling how he seems to be early in camp and early within the season. If Graveman is again to 96-98 mph together with his sinker and may get his stroll charge again right down to the 9% vary — it was at 12.4% in 2023 — he’ll be a formidable piece in what needs to be a robust Diamondbacks bullpen.
D-backs basic supervisor Mike Hazen has been open about his need so as to add a better this offseason. Whereas Graveman is probably not handed the position out of the gate, he provides a proficient and skilled possibility for supervisor Torey Lovullo to think about. If he can get again to 2021-23 kind, it’s simple to see Graveman factoring into the ninth inning. Previous to this settlement, the Snakes appeared more likely to lean on some mixture of A.J. Puk, Justin Martinez and Kevin Ginkel in save alternatives.
The addition of Graveman pushes the Diamondbacks’ payroll a bit north of $195MM, per RosterResource. That’s a franchise-record mark by a large margin, shattering the earlier highwater mark of $163MM, set simply final yr. Previous to the 2024 season, the D-backs had by no means opened the season greater than $132MM. They’ve been closely concerned in each the commerce and free agent markets in every of the previous two offseasons, nonetheless, with no greater strike coming than the club-record $210MM funding in newly signed ace Corbin Burnes.
Since Graveman solely bumps the payroll by $600K over a league-minimum participant, it’s at the very least possible that the D-backs might stay engaged out there for added bullpen assist. David Robertson and Kyle Finnegan each stay unsigned and have ample closing expertise. Craig Kimbrel and Hector Neris are each nonetheless on the market as properly and seeking to rebound from shaky 2024 campaigns, whereas Daniel Bard is an much more excessive rebound candidate as he seems to be to rebound from flexor tendon surgical procedure that price him all the 2024 marketing campaign together with his fortieth birthday looming in June. The commerce market presents extra prospects, in fact, however Hazen mentioned simply yesterday that any forthcoming bullpen acquisitions would probably be made by way of free company.
ESPN’s Jesse Rogers first reported the D-Backs and Graveman had a one-year deal. MLB.com’s Steve Gilbert was first with the $1.35MM assure. Rogers reported the utmost $3.3MM worth after incentives, whereas Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic reported the mutual possibility/buyout.
