Astros, Mariners pull off odd trade while facing one another

SEATTLE (AP) — The Houston Astros have landed one of the top relievers in baseball, acquiring right-hander Kendall Graveman from the Seattle Mariners on Tuesday in an odd intra-division trade while the teams were preparing to play each other.

Graveman and Rafael Montero are going to the AL West-leading Astros with infielder Abraham Toro and reliever Joe Smith going back to Seattle.

A teary Graveman said he was shocked by the trade, and had assumed he would be sticking with the Mariners, who'd won four straight against divisional opponents in gritty fashion.

“I didn’t see it coming, but there’s always that percent of, ‘This game’s a business,’" Graveman said as he stood in front of the Astros dugout. “I’m speaking truth and honest, the way I felt is, (we're) nine games over .500 over on that side and playing pretty good ball while I was there. That takes away from the last five days, honestly, I think. But we’ll see if they bounce back.”

The move bolsters a Houston bullpen that has struggled at times and has an ERA above 4.00 this season.

“We are always looking to improve all aspects of the roster,” Astros general manager James Click said. “This one happens to be focused on the bullpen. But we’re not going to take any options off the table when it comes to trying to put ourselves in a position to compete for a World Series.”

Graveman is 4-0 with a 0.82 ERA and 10 saves in 30 appearances this year. He missed nearly a month due to COVID-19 protocols in May and June, but has been dominant on the mound. Graveman has not allowed an earned run in his past 12 appearances.

On the surface it appears a baffling decision by Seattle to give up its most dominant reliever while failing to fill a position of need with the Mariners just one game behind Oakland in the AL wild-card...

source https://www.chron.com/sports/article/Astros-Mariners-pull-off-trade-while-facing-one-16344382.php