It was easy to forget since he did not pitch in 2019, but the Cubs inked righty Kendall Graveman to a fairly unique contract last winter. Now, the team will soon face a decision on his future with the organization.
Graveman’s deal promised him $575K for 2019 and included a $3MM club option (sans buyout) for the season to come. The team will soon have to decide whether to exercise that option. While he’s still within the limits of arbitration eligibility, Graveman can’t be kept by that method. MLBTR has learned that his contract includes a provision requiring the club to release him if it does not pick up the option.
The whole reasoning behind the Cubs’ signing of Graveman was to open this possibility. Indications are that his work this year was relatively promising. The 28-year-old former Jays and A’s hurler was never expected to make it back to the majors this year while rehabbing from Tommy John surgery. But he was able to ramp up to the point that he made two minor-league rehab starts, totaling six innings of action. And he performed all of his efforts under the watchful gaze of the Cubs organization, giving them a close look at the progress and (nearly) end results.
In weighing the decision, the Cubs will no doubt be closely considering how best to construct a cost-efficient 2020 rotation. There are several other soon-to-be free-agent candidates for buy-low/bounceback contracts. But those might end up being more expensive. And the players in question haven’t been under a Cubs microscope all year long.
There are some other factors to consider here as well. Graveman’s 2020 contract would include a $2.5MM incentive package. The Cubs would likely gladly pay that if he’s healthy and effective enough to earn it. Plus, the team would still be able to control him via arbitration for the 2021 campaign if all goes well, effectively creating another option year.
It’s arguable that the Cubs would be in decent shape in the rotation if they hang onto Graveman, even without further action beyond some depth moves. A resurgent Yu Darvish would front the staff along with Kyle Hendricks and Jose Quintana, with veteran lefty Jon Lester trying to finish out his contract with a bang. Graveman would be looking to get his career back on an upward trajectory. He had been a sturdy rotation piece for the A’s from 2015-17, turning in 407 frames of 4.11 ERA ball, before running into elbow troubles. There are also some younger options in the Cubs system, not that any appear to be sure things at this point.
Of course, that isn’t exactly an imposing staff to carry into a season in which your team is trying to break a two-year string of disappointment. The Cubbies might well prefer to chase a different arm. Even then, picking up Graveman’s option might be worthwhile. The club could still utilize him as a swingman or even put together a trade to another team that would love to take a shot at him for that rate.
For only $3 million, it is a easy choice to pick up the option even if they plan to look at other arms,
No
You can never have enough pitching throughout the season.
If he is looking good, keep him. The season is long and who knows if he’ll be needed to fill in once someone gets injured.
Graveman seems like a perfect fit for Cubs.
I think they should exercise it. He has a good upside when healthy.
Pass
I’d say negotiate something to void the current contract and offer him an incentive-based contract with like $1 million base salary, and $500k for 100, 125, 150, 175 IP, with another team option for the following year for $5 million.
If his contract is 3 million guaranteed, why would agree to that?
If they want to void his contract, they have to release him. I get your point but why would the player want to accept a deal far less than he already agreed to and another team option just like the one you are advocating that they do not elect to exercise. Makes no sense for him to say yes to any of that without testing the market first.
If he doesn’t think he’d get a better offer elsewhere, that’s why. If he does think he can do better, of course he tests the market.
That deal absolutely sucks for Graveman. He’d be better off signing a minor league deal anywhere else. 1.75 MM if he pitches 175 innings? That’s abysmal.
Never mind I didn’t read that correctly. Im sure Graveman will test the waters if the cubs decline. At least 4-5 rebuilding squads that need innings. I’m sure they’d be more than happy to offer him a better incentive package if the Cubs pass.
Why would he do that. He could get that low ball offer from many teams
If I remember correctly, he was excellent in a couple of starts for Iowa in the PCL playoffs. For the low cost, why would you let him walk? Especially after financing his rehab and investing a full year into his recovery. With him, Chatwood, and Mills, that should fill a fifth starters spot. That doesn’t even include Alzolay or an arm to be acquired. No-brainer here!
So how about a update on where his injury is coming along. Its been almost a year and a half since TJS.
Call me crazy but you could read the article you commented on to figure out the answer to your own inquiry.
R u kidding. The article did update it
Reminds me of Drew Smyly… rehabbed for a year with the cubs then dealt to Texas without ever throwing a pitch… I dont believe he had an option granted, but nonetheless similar
Same thought here. If the cubs don’t want the guys the second year, probably should stop doing this type of contract.
They had to trade Smyly to make the Hamels contract work. Its why he went to Texas specifically. Cubs saved Texas approx 6/7 million that they were responsible for if they didn’t exercise the 20 million option. Once the Cubs did that, Texas assumed Smyly and his contract.
I think the Ricketts’ can dip into their Trump = funds to resign this mediocre pitcher.
Way to bring politics into a baseball post. Stupid…
Theo running a MASH unit or what?
Hopefully they give Chatwood and Mills a chance to win the 5th starter.
I would explore trades for Quintana if it were me.
Quintana and Chatwood have Yankees written all over them.
Frazier?
Lolololol. Yanks don’t want either of those stiffs. But big thanks to Theo for refusing to trade Schwarber for Chapman in 2016 and throwing in Gleyber, instead. Hahahaha. Gonna be another 100 years before the Scrubs win again.
Scrubs… how original. Did you write that one inside your Trapper Keeper?
To boot, Theo refuses to give up Schwarber in the Quintana deal. Instead he offered Eloy, who, in his rookie season and missing 25% due to a hammy, managed to hit 31 HRs. In the immortal words of Jason Benetti….Thanks Cubs!
Moronic comment. Schwarber is way better than Jimenez ever will be, I bet you thumbs up your own comments.
I’m pretty sure the Yankees wanted Schwarber for Miller and the cubs declined
I watched him pitch, wasnt a fan at all. Good stuff for a stretch of games then completely implodes and always has an annual DL trip. Hes just a reminder of that terrible donaldson trade
This is a no brainer. Pick it up, pick up Quintana’s option and deal him for some bullpen help and go with Lester, Darvish, Hendricks, and Graverman, Chatwood and maybe a minor league arm steps up. Or deal Chatwood if you can find a match, for his 12 million dollar last year deal. Even with the incentives if it’s 6 million he’s half the cost of Quintana who’s .500 at best.
Cubs should consider moving Quantana to Houston for someone like Armenteros or C. Perez and perhaps a low level prospect.
Ha.
Wow Bane! Hope you didn’t hurt yourself coming up with that one.
No disrespect to Mr. Jeff Todd but an article about Kendall Graveman? Really? C’mon man. Keep him-Let him walk.It makes no difference. Graveman has no impact at all. The Cubs’ organization have more significant issues to concern themselves with and the MLBTraderumors site should have something more interesting to write about.
I was interested in the article
Doesn’t matter what your feelings are about the article, the option still exists. A debatable topic but still one of importance considering the Ricketts’ “we have no money” claims
This guy was a scrub when he was healthy. Easiest decision ever. Release him. And there are people on this site telling me MLB isn’t watered down. Lolol
Pick up his option…get rid of Quintana.
This may seem like a silly question. If the Cubs knew going into 2019 that Graveman would likely not pitch in 2019, then didn’t they go into the signing planning on bringing him back in 2020. That’s not to say that I feel as if he is worth the investment, but it seems as if the Cubs have already made it and he didn’t do anything this year health or performance wise to change how they would have felt about him last off season.
Why is the writer assuming the Cubs will pick up Jose Quintana’s option? Better to roll the dice with Graveman that has a pretty good upside rather than pay 11M for below average performance from Quintana. That would be stupid. Lester not retiring after the season ended really hurt the Cubs as well. The guy has absolutely nothing left and isn’t close to being an effective MLB pitcher anymore. I guess he just wants his last paycheck? Ideally, they pick up either Cole or Bumgarner in FA to go with Darvish, Hendricks, and Lester. Most likely it will be Bumgarner as he will be cheaper and a good fit to fill a similar role that Cole Hamels did. Graveman or Chatwood can be alternated as the 5th starter or long relief. That is not good enough for the postseason though. If the Cubs are serious about getting back to the playoffs, they are going to have to pick up another strong pitcher via trading Bryant. Even though the Mets say they aren’t dealing, they would definitely trade Syndergaard and a top prospect for Bryant.