The Braves have agreed to a minor league deal with free-agent righty Jesse Chavez, as first noted on the transactions log on at Braves.com. Presumably, he’ll head to their alternate site once he clears intake testing.
Chavez, 37, spent Spring Training with the Angels, who cut him loose late in Spring Training rather than pay him a $100K retention bonus (as would’ve been his right as a six-year veteran who qualified as an Article XXB free agent). Chavez struggled through 4 1/3 innings with the Halos during Cactus League play, yielding seven runs on nine hits and three walks with just a pair of strikeouts (25 batters faced).
Chavez had a solid run with the Rangers and Cubs from 2018-19, pitching to a combined 3.58 ERA with a 23 percent strikeout rate and an excellent 5.5 percent walk rate through 173 1/3 innings (101 relief appearances, nine starts). But the wheels came off for the veteran righty last summer in the second season of a two-year deal with Texas, as he was clobbered for a 6.88 ERA in 17 innings of work.
This will be the second stint with the Braves for Chavez, who tossed 36 2/3 innings for Atlanta more than a decade ago in 2010. The results weren’t pretty at the time, but Chavez broke out not long after and solidified himself as a solid swingman over a seven-year stretch during which he pitched for six different teams. All told, he carries a career 4.52 ERA, a 20.8 percent strikeout rate, a 7.4 percent walk rate and a 41.6 percent ground-ball rate through 933 innings spread across 13 seasons and nine different big league clubs.
The Braves currently have five pitchers — Mike Soroka, Max Fried, Drew Smyly, Touki Toussaint and Sean Newcomb — on the injured list. Bringing Chavez into the mix afford them some veteran depth both in the bullpen and the rotation, though it’s been more than three weeks since the Angels cut him loose, so he may need some time to ramp up before he’s even considered for a look with the big league club.
Let’s see how many people over-react to a depth signing.
Trade some of the overrated prospects for a couple studs from somewhere. This is getting old with this team.
So, trade overrated prospects for studs. Unless you mean 2x4x8’ studs..?
Well 2x4s are really expensive right now
Everything is a joke to you. This will be the reason the playoffs will be short again if any. Every game can’t be won 9 to 8 .
AA kills me lol
Reminds me of wearing pants with patched knees as a kid.
Shane Greene.. this is getting tiresome AA
Shane Greene needs to lower his price
Why do Braves fans overreact to a minor league depth signing?
Its not just braves fans. Everyone seems to overreact at times. Ive seen it with Angels minor league signings.
It’s not a depth piece when he sucks. Why do people think this is legit depth. They can literally place any minor league pitcher in the same slot and get similar results. It’s only depth when a guy goes down and the guy behind him can provide similar to slightly less value. Not significantly less value. I’d rather them continue to promote from within for y’all’s definition of “depth” than to go out and waste a penny on bad players
@bravesfan. I agree. Might as well let Tucker Davidson pitch if needed since they already used a option on him calling him up for a couple games and riding the bench then sending him to the alternate site. I can’t see how he can do much worse then a couple relief pitchers on the current MLB roster
Someone likely is getting promoted and Chavez will take their spot in the minors, or however they’re doing it this year. They can look at Chavez there, see if he has anything left, and if not cut him loose. It’s a harmless move.
They don’t want Tucker on the Big Club unless he gets regular action. He will get that at alternative training site. Based on very limited look-see last year, Tucker needs more development, which he is more likely to get below the big club.
Perfect for our hitters to get back in shape.
lol same. We’re a mess mostly it’s our SP
What’s up with Patrick Corban? He hasn’t looked like him self in 2020 and so far this year. I expect him to get back at it but it’s weird seeing him struggle like he is.
Going to game tonight to watch him. I don’t know if COVID layoff is what causes it. I wasn’t surprised when he got roughed up by Dodgers because he needs players to chase his pitches and Dodgers are disciplined that’s why he wasn’t great against them in 2019. Idk what happened against the D-backs that was awful. I’m only going to get worried if this happens a few more times.
Please beat the Yankees today lol
@metsfan22
I hope so man, btw Taijuan Walker and Stroman look like studs so far. Hopefully Max Fried returns to at least 2019 form when he’s healthy.
Fried has nasty stuff. I think he rebounds.
Stras injured really hurts
@fathead0507, Greene was at the ballpark the last home stand in the bleachers watching the BP fall apart! I’m with you. I am sooooo tired I watching Jackson, Dayton, Webb and come out of there and get rocked. Martin is down AA and 3 arms from the great pen of 2020 are gone. Bravos should have at least two more wins.
I dont like Jackson and dont trust him but hes been good so far this season.
I really wonder what’s going on with Greene; there’s been basically zero interest in him.
High cost.
Cost could be the answer but I haven’t actually heard anything about his asking price. Maybe I’m just out of the loop on this one.
I thought I heard like close to $9m or so.
He’s probably not going to lower it either knowing there are needy teams. He’s negotiating from a position of strength, though he is losing some leverage as the season rolls on.
Greene has been pitching better than the metrics for a couple years at least. Maybe he’s lucky or maybe the metrics are off but nobody is meeting his asking price. So don’t just point a finger at Braves. I also don’t know the asking price but main point is that he hasn’t drawn takers across the board. That’s my read of the situation.
Yeah, even if his asking price was a bit high, you’d think that some team would at least kick the tires on him. It’s been nearly crickets from Greene for months now. When you look up Greene’s name on MLB Trade Rumors, the only rumor that came up about him was the Twins looking into him before signing Alex Colome.
I’m just tired of the all lefty pen when Minter,Smith, Matzek walk every other hitter.. need a solid RH to put in with Martin down and that would be Greene
As much as we’d like to lay all this at AA’s feet he can only spend what he’s allowed to spend and LM clearly has told him there is no more money to spend. Hence picking up people off the scrap heap and hoping something sticks.
Isn’t Tommy Milone having a decent start to the season somewhere?? Asking for a friend
I noticed that too…and with AA’s old team. It’s hurt more if he were a RHP.
Can we go get Cam Bedrosian please?!!! Much better depth piece than this junk.
As expected, another night and BP falters against a team struggling more than them. Super off night by Matzek but Jones wild pitch and walk in runs? I’d rather they drive em in and lose that way. If you look at the loses it’s BB’s that seal the night. Wasted Morton’s start
I said in another post the Dodgers have PRICE in the BP and we are getting Chavez for “Depth”? For a team a game away from the WS and the only team to have those guys on the ropes you gotta do better than this. This extreme couponing approach by the higher ups on payroll is ridiculous.