MLB News: White Sox Seal Deal With Kendall Graveman To Bolster Central Crown Defense

The Chicago White Sox have reportedly added former Houston Astros pitcher Kendall Graveman to their bullpen following reports of a three-year, $24 million deal being sealed.

The update on the Graveman status was first provided by Jon Heyman of the MLB Network.

Initially, it was reported that the 30-year-old was nearing a deal with the White Sox.

Roughly 30 minutes later, Heyman tweeted that Graveman and the White Sox have agreed to the deal, strengthening the South Siders.

Graveman divided his time last MLB season with the Astros and Seattle Mariners. He went 5-1 with a 1.77 ERA and 61 strikeouts in 53 relief appearances.

Furthermore, the veteran pitcher was 4-0 with an 0.82 ERA, 34 strikeouts, and 10 saves in 30 outings with the Mariners.

In addition, he was 1-1 with a 3.13 ERA and 27 strikeouts in 23 appearances with the Astros, the Chicago Tribune reported.

In the postseason, Graveman saw action in nine games for the Astros, going 1-0 with a 1.64 ERA and 11 strikeouts in 11 innings.

Graveman worked his way back to form after undergoing Tommy John's surgery in July 2018. He was with the Oakland Athletics at the time before becoming a free agent four months later.

Ironically, Graveman signed a one-year deal with Chicago in free agency. However, his first stint saw him playing in the minors before he found himself in free agency once more.

He was picked up by the Mariners, but his benign bone tumor in the cervical spine continued to slow him down.

Despite the adversity, Graveman managed to defy the odds and work himself back up. He was given the supporting role behind Ryan Pressly.

Among the unforgettable moments he had was when he pitched the eighth inning of the Astros’ series clincher in Game 4 in Chicago.

Graveman will now become a critical part of Tony La Russa’s bullpen, something that should bolster Chicago’s defense of its Central crown.