Chicago White Sox News: Kendall Graveman traded to the Astros

Chicago White Sox general manager Rick Hahn is working the phones as the Major League Baseball Trade Deadline approaches on August 1.

The first move that the White Sox made on Friday was the trade of veteran starting pitcher Lance Lynn and relief pitcher Joe Kelly to the Los Angeles Dodgers for a package that included outfielder Trayce Thompson, right-handed pitcher Nick Nastrini, and right-handed pitcher Jordan Leasure.

Nastrini’s inclusion in the deal continued Hahn’s success in landing Top-10 organizational prospects for the veteran players that he is selling. The White Sox received the Los Angeles Angels’ No. 2 and No. 3 prospects in their trade of Lucas Giolito and relief pitcher Reynaldo Lopez.

Nastrini was the Dodgers’ ninth overall prospect and Hahn also received an organizational Top-10 prospect in the second deal that he made on Friday.

The trade in question was the White Sox sending relief pitcher Kendall Graveman to the Houston Astros for catching prospect, Korey Lee.

Chicago White Sox general manager Rick Hahn has added life to the team’s diminished farm system.

Lee is the Astros’ fifth overall prospect and is just about Major League ready.

With the Astros’ Triple-A affiliate this season, Lee is slashing .283/.328/.406 through 302 plate appearances. Lee is considered a bat-first catcher with the idea being that his power will develop. Lee, with Yainer Diaz at the Major League level with the Astros, would have been blocked positionally had he remained with Houston.

The White Sox, with the moves that they have made, appeared to have addressed their catching position for the long-term. Lee could begin to take over catching duties from Yasmani Grandal as soon as this season and Edgar Quero, the catching prospect acquired in the Giolito trade, may be White Sox’s best overall prospect.

For as much as Hahn deserves his share of the blame for the fact that the previous rebuild failed, he appears to have this second rebuild off to the right start. Though, that is a familiar tune for White Sox fans.