Houston sends Smith, Toro to Seattle in exchange for two relievers
HOUSTON, TX – The Houston Astros have acquired RHP Kendall Graveman and RHP Rafael Montero from the Seattle Mariners in exchange for RHP Joe Smith and IF Abraham Toro. The announcement was made by Astros General Manager James Click.
Graveman, 30, has gone 4-0 with 10 saves and a 0.82 ERA (3ER/33IP) in 30 games for the Mariners this season. He’s been one of the best relievers in the Majors in 2021, as he owns the lowest WHIP (0.70) among all Major League relievers and the lowest ERA, opponent batting average (.136) and opponent OPS (.424) among all AL relievers. A veteran of seven Major League seasons (2014-18, 2020-21), Graveman has pitched in 124 career MLB games with Toronto (2014), Oakland (2015-18) and Seattle (2020-21). He is set to become a free agent following the 2021 campaign.
Montero, 30, has gone 5-3 with seven saves and a 7.27 ERA (35ER/43.1IP) in 40 games for the Mariners in 2021. Montero has pitched better than his number indicate in 2021, as his FIP (4.13) is over three runs lower than his ERA, while his BABIP (.366) is the fourth-highest in the American League (min. 40 IP). A seven-year veteran (2014-17, 2019-21), Montero has spent time with New York-NL (2014-17), Texas (2019-20) and Seattle (2021) in his career. Montero, who was designated for assignment by Seattle on Friday, is under club control through the 2022 season.
Smith, 37, has gone 1-1 with a 7.48 ERA (18ER/21.2IP) in 27 games for the Astros this season. The 14-year Major League veteran has pitched his last three seasons in Houston (2018-19, 2021) and has made 809 career relief appearances since debuting in the Majors in 2007.
Toro, 24, has hit .211 (23×109) with six homers and 20 RBI in 35 games for the Astros this season. The switch-hitting infielder has spent parts of the last three seasons in Houston, appearing in 93 Major League games. He was originally acquired as a fifth-round pick in the 2015 MLB draft.
