The Arizona Diamondbacks designated 10-year major league veteran reliever Kendall Graveman for assignment on Monday and recalled pitcher Juan Morillo in a corresponding move.
Graveman, 34, signed with Arizona in spring training after missing all of the 2024 campaign, recovering from right shoulder labrum surgery. He started the season on the injured list (strained right lumbar), debuted with the team on May 13 and also missed time in June due to a hip injury.
Graveman made 19 appearances with the Diamondbacks, winning his lone decision, but pitching to an ERA of 7.13 in 17 2/3 innings of work. He did not allow an earned run in six consecutive appearances (July 13-Aug. 3), but permitted two runs, while recording one out vs. San Diego on August 5 and gave up three runs in one inning on August 10 vs. Colorado.
“Kendall was grinding through things,” Arizona manager Torey Lovullo said. “He was having some really good moments, some touch-and-go moments outside of that and we just felt like it was the right time to make a move to get Juan back up here.”
Graveman debuted with the Toronto Blue Jays in 2014, then spent four seasons in Oakland (2015-18), before spending time with the Seattle Mariners (2020-21), Houston Astros (2021, 2023) and the Chicago White Sox (2022-23). He was a member of two Astros’ division-winning squads and appeared in nine games in the 2021 playoffs. The right-hander was 1-0 with a 1.64 ERA in 11 innings of work for the squad which fell to Tampa Bay in the American League Championship Series.
Graveman, who intends to keep pitching, signed for $1.35 million with a $5 million mutual option in 2026. He is 36-43 with a 4.03 ERA in 299 career appearances (80 starts).
Morillo, 26, posted an 0-2 record and a 4.94 ERA in 31 outings for the Diamondbacks earlier this season. He was recalled from Triple-A Reno.
–Field Level Media
