The Red Sox have signed free-agent right-hander Jhoulys Chacin to a minor-league deal, according to Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com. Many expected Chacin to sign on with the Red Sox, who expressed interest in the ex-Brewer after he threw a bullpen session in front of Red Sox brass.
Chacin hit the open market on Monday after he was released by the Brewers, the team for which he took the mound on Opening Day this season. Evidently, Milwaukee’s opinion of the 31-year-old soured after he mustered only a 5.79 ERA in 88 2/3 innings for the Brew Crew. It’s been a swift fall from grace for Chacin, who just last season pitched nearly 200 innings of 3.50 ERA baseball en route to a game 7 start in Milwaukee. However, David Stearns and company prefer other in-house options, to the point that the club was willing to eat the $6MM remaining on Chacin’s deal.
It shouldn’t be long before Chacin is given a chance to pitch out of the Boston rotation, which has seemingly been in a constant state of turmoil this season. With Chris Sale unlikely to pitch again this year and rotation stalwarts David Price and Rick Porcello failing to meet expectations—to say nothing of Nathan Eovaldi’s underperformance and the flubbed acquisition of Andrew Cashner—the Red Sox are exhausting every last option in hopes that something will stick as the club hopes for a last-minute turnaround. As a last resort, taking a late-season chance on Chacin—who is just a year removed from a career year and whose injuries this year may in part be attributed to injuries—can’t hurt and has some potential for a nice payoff.
Can’t believe the Red Sox think they still have a chance
Six games back of the wild card I can’t believe you think they don’t
They don’t they have to pass 3 other teams AND go on a 20-8 stretch. They will miss the playoffs
It’s extremely unlikely, but if the door’s still cracked I’d rather them do this instead of just tossing in the towel. Especially when it’s not like they have a bunch of young arms they can call up and see what they got
Only 2 other teams
2. While having a 4 game series with one. Not likely, but not impossible.
It is highly unlikely they will make the playoffs, but they still have a chance. The Rockies proved that in 2007 winning 14 of their last 15 games in September and making the playoffs that anything is possible.
Believe or not, the Sox have gone 9-3 in their last 12 as of last night and they made up a total of 1/2 game on the teams in front of them for the last wild card….yes that is right 1/2 game…..they have a chance if they play unbelievable ball and everyone in front of them pretty much doesn’t. We’ll just have to see but neither the Twins, Rays, Indians, or A’s are going to lay down the rest of the way…time is running out!
I said this Friday morning when they were six out. Or five and a half.
If we sit Monday morning 4 or 4 and a half out of a wild-card spot.. man keep the pedal to the metal. There’s a fighting chance for those who want to fight.
It looks like the bullpen is shored up and the offense is rolling. We get some Innings out of the starters and who knows in 4 weeks?
I still watch the scoreboard everyday. There still a chance.
i mean why not try? youre paying him pennies for all of a month. nothing else to do at this point.
What does it hurt? They need a starter, he’ll cost the same as any minor leaguer they bring up and from what they saw, they think he’s currently their best option.
6% according to fivethirtyeight, five games back in the WC race and these kind of comebacks are not without precedent. So yes, they have a chance, a very slim one but stranger things have happened in baseball.
Besides, I figure this is more about building a relationship and to see if he’s worth signing to an incentive deal for next season.
Any way you look at it there is no downside for the Red Sox to make this move.
Good Lord. Sox are 5 games back right now and leading the Angles. They could be 2 games back by Monday.
LET’S GO !!!!
What makes you think they think they have a chance?
I didn’t know they were eliminated… why give up, why call it a day?
I don’t get it.. it’s not over till it’s over. What are you going to do, play the young guys and sit the veterans? I guess you could but come on, you go for it until the season’s over. Unless you’re mathematically eliminated.. I mean come on.
“Never never never never give up” is a famous quote I keep hearing when the going gets tough.
There are those who wonder “what are the Twins doing here in the first place?” Just saying…
there are those who wonder why they wandered?
Now that he left Milwaukee I fully expect him to win post season mvp or cry young next year.
Doubt it. While maybe better bet that throwing brian Johnson, or that bunch of retreads they have at Pawtucket out there, I’d have rather seen Shawaryn if they had to go with some like this, who will more than likely serve as nothing more than BP for opposing teams in the AL East.
Nice!
They should have picked him up after the Braves cut him loose. Better late than never.
Good move. How many times does a player struggle then “find it” with a new team? Besides, a Hispanic player is apt to feel really comfortable with Cora and the Red Sox. Besides, there’s a 92 year old lady in Lynn who says the rosary before every game, and she’s rumored to have said: “Sign the dawgone fella. Right now, it’s about him or my cardiologist.” Sharp lady
LOL!
nothing to lose here. let him take Johnson’s next turn.
“whose injuries this year may in part be attributed to injuries…” – can’t argue with that logic!
Low risk move, even if they don’t make it to the playoffs, the off-season is going to be transitional for their pitching staff, both starters and relievers. If she shows something maybe he can be a low cost replacement for Porcello next year. Think of this as an audition; and really, he can’t do much worse than the meat they have thrown out this year.
A better start to the season, a more typical Sale and Porcello season and this team is in contention both in the division or the wild card. Unfortunately we got neither, and because of luxury tax concerns and improper deals (Pearce, Evolidi) the pen was held together with bailing wire and chewing gum.
*he
I feel bad for Pearce. I’m happy he helped with the WS n sad he’s gotten injured badly. Meet will come around. Maybe NOT playing out his arm in the postseason he’ll be fine for next yr. I believe that.
Nate not meet, lol
What do they have to lose?
They have nothing to lose and if they do make it somehow and if they win the one game tossup who wants to play the defending champs I’ll tell you no one. It’s a long shot but if they do manage to make it they will be coming in hot and no one will want to face that team.
How are they going to do that without starting pitching? Did you see how they blew the game in the 8th last nite?
Yes I did.