MLB trade grades: Astros bring back familiar face from White Sox

Kendall Graveman is reuniting with the Houston Astros as they move one of their top prospects to the Chicago White Sox. 

The Chicago White Sox are having a busy Friday as the MLB Trade Deadline draws near on Aug. 1. The White Sox deal Graveman back to the Houston Astros in exchange for one of their top prospects, catcher Korey Lee.

ESPN’s Jeff Passan reported that the White Sox are getting catcher Korey Lee in the deal. Lee was the number five prospect in the Houston system.

Graveman is signed through the 2024 season. This season he is 3-4 with eight saves. He has an ERA of 3.48 over 44 innings. He’s struck out 42 batters this season. Graveman played for the Astros in 2021, helping them to the 2021 World Series. Houston ultimately lost to the Atlanta Braves.   Graveman is in year two of a three-year deal worth $24 million.

Graveman has appeared in 257 games over his career, with 80 games started and 24 games saved. He’s 35-41 overall with 629.2 innings and 470 strikeouts. He is a strike-throwing pitcher who adds some depth to the Astros bullpen.

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The Houston Astros drafted Lee in the first round of the 2019 MLB June Amateur Draft from the University of California, Berkeley. He was the 32nd overall selection. He’s still in his rookie season, as he made his debut on July 1, 2022. He only played in 12 games that season.

This season, he has been with the Astros AAA affiliate and is on the injured list with a right oblique strain. He hasn’t performed well this season but certainly has the potential to be a top catcher with a plus arm. It’s possible that a change of scenery could help the prospect.

Passan’s ESPN colleague Jesse Rogers noted that with the move, the White Sox had traded five pitchers since Wednesday evening – Lucas Giolito (Angels), Reynaldo Lopez (Angels), Lance Lynn (Dodgers), Joe Kelly (Dodgers), and now Kendall Graveman (Houston). And the deadline is four days away on Aug. 1.

Chicago is making deals for their future, and given these moves, getting a top-five prospect in exchange for a struggling bullpen arm with ties to the receiving team is pretty great. The Astros are bringing back a familiar face to bolster their bullpen.

White Sox: B+

Astros: C