The Brewers announced today that they have released righty Jhoulys Chacin. He had recently been designated for assignment.
Given that we’re past the point on the calendar when trades are permissible, this outcome was all but inevitable. There was no reason to attempt outrighting him, since the veteran could have elected free agency without sacrificing the remainder of the $6MM owed to him this season.
It’s hard to imagine a rival club taking on that obligation for a hurler who hasn’t been in top form, particularly since Chacin has been on the injured list with an oblique injury. Whether or not he has cleared release waivers isn’t entirely clear from the club’s announcement. Barring a surprise development, he’ll hit the open market.
Chacin, 31, has fallen well shy of the standard he set in the prior two campaigns, over which he threw 373 innings of 3.69 ERA ball (handily outperforming his peripherals in the process). Through 88 2/3 frames over 19 starts in 2019, Chacin has limped to a 5.79 ERA. Fielding-independent ERA estimators didn’t see much cause to blame bad bounces, grading him out at 5.68 (FIP), 5.23 (xFIP), and 5.13 (SIERA).
Even more than he did last year, Chacin leaned hard on his slider, throwing it just over half the time. Doing so likely helped him to a career-high 8.1 K/9 strikeout rate, though Chacin still mustered only a cumulative 7.8% swinging-strike rate.
The biggest problem was with the long ball. He allowed 1.93 per nine on an 18.3% HR/GB rate, both of which are about double the levels he maintained last year. Batters put the ball in the air against him more than ever (38.1%) and did so at a much greater launch angle (16.5 degrees vs. previous high of 11.5). Though Chacin was able to generate a large quantity of harmless infield pops (18.3%), too many balls ended up in the bleachers.
It’s certainly still possible that a team will decide to add Chacin to provide some depth down the stretch. If he ends up making it back to the majors after signing elsewhere, he’ll play at the league-minimum rate for his new club, partially offsetting the cash still owed to him by the Brewers.
I’d like to see the Blue Jays sign him for the remainder of the season and stop using openers every other day.
That deal still worked out ok
Unless you see it as they had Chacin so they didn’t sign/trade for a better starter this winter or deadline. That’s hurt them quite a bit this year
No i think he means that for what they spent they got good value because of how well he performed last year even if this year wasn’t that great. I don’t agree with you that his contract prevented the brewers from pursuing something better. He only made like 16 million over 2 seasons, that extra 8 million or so wouldn’t have made that much of a difference imo. Now if you mean that with the extra 8 million plus redistributing the 28 mil they spent on grandal and moose, then I think you would be talking about maybe having a better starter on the team but the Chacion deal by itself was not the reason.
And they traded for Lyles in a market where SPs weren’t moving,
so completely debunked
Don’t be surprised if the Reds come calling and try to reunite Chacin with former pitching coach Derek Johnson with visions of correcting mechanic issues and towards the 2020 season.
When they get the mechanics of baseball construction corrected his performance will improve.
The old ball is never coming back. It doesn’t matter what anybody thinks, Manfred and the owners think the new ball is making the game better and that is the end of the conversation.
I agree. It could happen
The Great American Ballpark might not be kind to his homerun rate.
Pirates have about half a pitcher and 4 open spots, in a park that’s kind to Lefty’s.
If they sign Chacin they’ll have a whole pitcher total .
By current rules could he sign or be claimed by another team and make their playoff roster since this is not a trade? I know it is unlikely.
Only if it’s by September 1.
Actually August 31 is the day players need to be on the roster in order to be eligible for postseason.
Yes, which is BY September 1st. “By” September 1st means before (aka August 31st at the latest)
Not to be picky, but that’s not really true. If I want to sell something that has an expiration date, I have to put sell by September 1, which means I can sell up through September 1. Same with expiration dates. If it says use by a date, it’s that date, not the day before.
“While there theoretically is no ‘deadline’ to pick player up on waivers, in order for them to be eligible for the postseason a move must be made by Aug. 31.”
Is say he’d hurt a playoff team, but could get some innings in in an audition for a rebuilder
This is the sort of news that comes when Jhoulys expect it…
“Sounds like an Oakland A already!”
Can’t be much worse than Tyler “trailing after 1 inning” Beede.
As good as he was last year…..absolute hot garbage this year….actually that’s insulting garbage….
Colorado has its entire starting rotation on the IL, could there be a Rockies reunion? I know they are out of it, but they still have some games to play.
The Rockies are bringing up anyone trying to fill up the remaining innings of their lost season. Would be ultra surprised if they can’t get Chacin to come on board.
Agreed, Chacin will likely not land with a contender.
He was cut from a contender for a reason
…….”Whether or not he has cleared release waivers isn’t entirely clear from the club’s announcement” is the key statement here.
Let’s go Angels
Better than Happ
That’s not saying much
Given his pretty good 17 and is darn good 18.. some one will get him
I’m a fan of every team in baseball. Please do not sign with my team!
He is still better than many of our teams relief pitchers. How many relievers have an era north of 6 this year?