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Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports

Sneaky Strong Season Could See Kendall Graveman on the Move

Originally posted on On Tap Sports Net | By Besnik Zekiri | Last updated 7/17/23

The trade discussions surrounding the Chicago White Sox are intensifying, and it won't be long before we learn which players get dealt before the August 1 deadline. Given the team's struggles, the front office faces an easy decision. The White Sox currently have a record 15 games below .500 and only recently won their first series since June 23-25 against Boston, but it gets worse.

The South Siders have lost six of their last nine games, eight of their previous 12, 19 of their last 30, and are 8.5 games out of first place. These numbers scream "rebuild" and suggest that trading experienced players for prospects is the best path forward.

Which White Sox Players Are Likely To Be Traded?

There has been significant speculation surrounding a couple of pitchers. Lucas Giolito, who will be a free agent after this season, has been the White Sox' most reliable starter. Giolito represents Chicago's most valuable trade asset and should fetch a good return in a deadline swap.

Another starting pitcher, Lance Lynn, has an $18 million club option for 2024 with a $1 million buyout. Lynn is probably a short-term acquisition for interested clubs due to his expensive contract. Still, he has shown improvement after an abysmal start to the season.

However, Kendall Graveman, who's in the second season of a three-year, $24 million deal, has quietly enjoyed a stellar year. The right-handed reliever brings playoff experience, and contending teams are always interested in bolstering their bullpens.

Where Graveman lands should he get traded is anyone's guess. However, a deal that packages him alongside one of the aforementioned starting pitchers could net the White Sox a favorable return.

Underrated

Graveman has filled various roles for Chicago in 2023. With closer Liam Hendriks mostly unavailable this season, Graveman has occasionally assumed closer duties and converted eight of 11 save opportunities. Graveman, like the rest of the team, had a terrible April, but since then has been exceptional. Since April, he's 2-2 in 29.2 innings with an impressive 2.12 ERA and 1.11 WHIP.

There has been little buzz regarding the veteran reliever in the rumor mill, but he is no stranger to the trade process. Graveman got traded at the July 2021 deadline by the Seattle Mariners to the Houston Astros. While he knows the noise will persist as the deadline approaches, his focus remains in the present.

"Nothing changes from day to day," Graveman told Daryl Van Schouwen of the Chicago Sun-Times. "You know it and hear it, and people communicate it to you whether you want to hear it or not. Outside sources or friends will always mention it, but at the end of the day, we're here trying to win baseball games."

Act Accordingly

For manager Pedro Grifol, he's not making the trade deadline a topic of conversation with his players. Why dwell on the uncertainty of matters beyond their control? They have 15 days left until the deadline, and trades may or may not occur. So, the best thing they can do is keep playing their game and handle the situation like true professionals.

"What am I going to tell them? I'm going to say, 'Hey, focus on the game?'" Grifol said. "They know they have to focus on the game. It's something I think everybody here is a professional. They've been through it. They know it's a part of it."

What's On Tap Next?

Buckle up, because the trade deadline is fast approaching for the White Sox. It's a demanding period that presents an opportunity for development and a chance to demonstrate resilience. Let's see how the next two weeks unfold for this team and its players.

This article first appeared on On Tap Sports Net and was syndicated with permission.

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