With Mariners looking to trade, could the Reds land Kendall Graveman?

According to FanSided’s Robert Murray, the Seattle Mariners are in the market for starting pitching and infield help. Could the Cincinnati Reds be a logical trade partner? Perhaps GM Nick Krall needs to have a conversation with Jerry Dipoto.

If there’s one thing the Reds need, it’s some reliable relievers. It just so happens that the Mariners may have one of the most coveted relievers on the trade block. Kendall Graveman is signed to a one-year/$1.25M contract and will be a free agent at the end of the season.

Graveman has appeared in 27 games this season and owns a 26.4% strikeout-rate and 54.2% ground ball-rate according to FanGraphs. Graveman has 29 strikeouts through 30 innings of work this season and a 0.90 ERA.

What would it take for the Reds to land Kendall Graveman from the Mariners?

Murray reports that Seattle is looking to add a starting pitcher that can be a stopgap option for the injured Justin Dunn and the suspended Hector Santiago. The Reds are currently employing a six-man starting rotation, which means one of Cincinnati’s starters could be expendable. There’s also former starter Tony Santillan sitting in the bullpen.

Graveman will be in high-demand, so the Reds won’t be able to just sit back and wait or low-ball the Mariners either. It’s time for Krall and the Cincinnati front office to be aggressive and show the fanbase that they mean business.

While Gutierrez has been a fine pitcher during his first two months in the big leagues, I think we can all agree that the right-hander is expendable, especially if it’ll net the Reds a solid reliever. Gutierrez has appeared in 10 games and owns a 4.97 ERA.

Alejo Lopez is a fast-rising minor leaguer who will struggle to find a permanent spot on the Cincinnati roster. Lopez made his major league debut earlier this season, but was recently sent back to Triple-A. Lopez is skilled hitter, but with Nick Senzel and Mike Moustakas slated to return very soon, it’s highly unlikely we’ll see Lopez return to the majors this season.

Gutierrez and Lopez might not be enough to complete a trade, but perhaps if the Reds throw in a young, minor league talent like Malvin Valdez, the M’s will have no choice but to accept and ship Kendall Graveman to the Queen City.

Graveman isn’t the only relief pitcher the Cincinnati Reds should pursue this season, but any player on a one-year contract or a controllable, young pitcher should pique the front office’s interest in the coming days.