The Nationals and infielder Michael Chavis are in agreement on a minor league deal, reports Andrew Golden of The Washington Post. Chavis will receive an invitation to major league Spring Training and will earn a $1MM salary if he cracks the roster, with a further $500K available in incentives. If he’s not in the majors by June 1, he can opt out and return to free agency.
Chavis, 27, was a first round pick of the Red Sox in 2014 and a highly-touted prospect while in the minors. Baseball America ranked him the #85 prospect in the league in 2018. He drew plaudits for his power stroke but also concerns for his extremely aggressive approach that led to few walks and many strikeouts.
Chavis made his major league debut in 2019 and those concerns have largely proved prescient. He’s gone down on strikes in 31.7% of his plate appearances thus far in 309 major league games while earning free passes just 5.4% of the time. Those numbers are both well south of the typical league averages, which were a 22.4% strikeout rate and 8.2% walk rate in 2022. The power has still been present, to be fair, as Chavis has 40 home runs to this point.
He was traded to the Pirates at the deadline in 2021 but didn’t do enough to stay in Pittsburgh’s plans. He hit .229/.265/.389 in 129 games in 2022 while striking out in 29.6% of his trips to the plate and walking in just 4.5% of them. That production was 20% below league average, as evidenced by his 80 wRC+. The Bucs designated him for assignment and outrighted him in September, with Chavis then reaching free agency at season’s end.
For the Nationals, they were the worst team in baseball in 2022 and are likely a few years away from returning to contention. Though Chavis has struggled in the big leagues thus far, he’s a former first round draft pick and top 100 prospect, a fairly sensible player for them to target and hope for a breakout. He’s also hit .279/.357/.547 in the minor leagues going back to the start of 2018, amounting to a wRC+ of 141. If he could bridge the gap between his minor league and major league results, even in a small way, he could turn into a valuable player.
Defensively, Chavis has played the three non-shortstop infield positions as well as the outfield corners in the majors, though he’s spent more time at first base than those other spots. The Nats are set to run out a fairly young and inexperienced infield in the upcoming season, with Joey Meneses at first, Luis Garcia at second, CJ Abrams at shortstop and Carter Kieboom a possibility at third. Jeimer Candelario was brought in for some insurance at the corners, though he’s an impending free agent and could be a midseason trade candidate.
The club seems to be taking a volume approach to adding infield depth, as they retained Ildemaro Vargas and claimed Jeter Downs off waivers. They also inked minor league deals with Matt Adams, Erick Mejia, Franklin Barreto and now Chavis. That group will seemingly be battling to get the call if any of the projected starters struggle or get hurt. If Chavis can emerge and crack the roster, he still has an option year remaining and could be sent to the minors during the season. He has between three of four years of MLB service time and could be retained for future seasons via arbitration if he can show enough improvement to work his way into the club’s plans.
as far as a team this low in a rebuilds moves go, nats have made some possible value additions.
It seems like Rizzo has done a very good job trading for prospects and maximizing the value they get from each of their star players. Harper seemed to have been held onto because of ownership and not Rizzo. Only time will tell, but it seems like Rizzo has built a pool of very promising talent that will bring the Nationals back to being a competitive team winning perhaps a 2nd world series.
I really hope he can find a home somewhere. He will always be one of my favorite players
I loved Chavis to when he was with us.
More power and a better OPS than Kiki. If he can get some OF under his hat he’d be more valuable than the 10m blunder.
And yet 30 GMs wouldn’t sign Chavis to a ML contract. Brilliant insight!
Just goes to show how BAD the Kiki deal is Joe
great pickup by the Nats. Might be a good under the radar move that has surprising value , like Thor going to LAD.
Who?
You remember, the guy that the Bloom haters thought was great? Had about a good week, and the haters forgot that K/W still counts.
Oh well. He has a little bit of talent, but unless someone teaches him to use the entire field, he won’t succeed. I saw him step into the bucket on a pitch 6 inches outside.
The people that though Chavis was great just didn’t pay attention to his at bats. When he first came up to Boston he killed the ball he came out like a house of fire. The reason for that most big league pitchers figure a young guy can hit the fastball but will struggle with the superior off speed pitches that big league pitchers throw so they throw a lot off off speed pitches when the first come up. Michael Chavis can hit the off speed pitch he sits back and crushes those pitches.
The problem for Chavis though is big league pitchers found out he didn’t have the bat speed to catch up to a decent fastball especially if it’s elevated. The other issue Chavis sees the elevated fastball well so he swings at it his bat usually gets threw the zone when the pitch is already in the glove. Back in the day these guys were said to have a slider swing speed bat. The only way that Chavis can catch up to an elevated fastball is too cheat and now that has left him vulnerable to the the off speed stuff as well. He needs to learn to lay off the high heat even though he thinks he sees it well unless he can do that he will be out of MLB in a couple of years. He’d be a perfect candidate for Japan or the KBO.
In case you think JoeBrady is exaggerating, lets take a stroll down memory lane. These are comments posted when Chavis got traded to Pitt for Austin Davis. There are several more I skipped, and many, many more were posted on other articles after these.
“Chavis is a good kid who deserved better than what Bloom and Cora have given him. Like Mookie, Price, JBJ and Benny, I expect him to thrive if he gets away from the prejudice of the Red Sox organization. I’m happy for him but I know he really wanted to play for Boston so that’s got to be disappointing.”
“Scratching my head but trusting in Bloom”
“What the AF is Chaim doing???”
“Should have tried to get Schoop from Detroit to play first”
(Really? Chavis was going to get you Schoop)
“This makes little sense…..”
“This Red Sox team is going to drop like a stone in a lake”
—–All these comments, when the Red Sox got rid of a Chavis. Look at what Chavis was doing at the time statistically. People hate anything Bloom dones, regardless of rationality.
Yes Rsmith there was also a contingent that wanted him to play third and move Devers off of third. They said that he didn’t get a fair shake that Devers did. I even had an argument from a few people on this site between Devers and Chavis. It was clear to see that Devers had electric bat speed and Chavis well he didn’t.
The people that though Chavis was great just didn’t pay attention to his at bats.
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Like most RS fans, I held out some hope. But after a while, the stats are undeniable. No one with his K/W ever succeeds.
People hate anything Bloom dones, regardless of rationality.
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That’s why they are wrong so often. As they say in the poker world, the worst player at the table will get pocket aces just as often as the best player in the game.
By criticizing 100% of his moves, they are likely to be wrong about 50% of the time.
No idea who he is. He most likely sucks at baseball
He is a former prospect and 1000% better than you are and probably made more money already in his career than you ever will. That’s who he is.
At least you two aren’t taking it personal
Yanks is being a troll. You can’t say you don’t know who someone is after reading an article that explains who they are.
Yanks2’s sarcasm was lost in translation.
I didn’t realize Yankee fans could be sarcastic. I just thought they were born that way.
I hate trolls
…they are everywhere… usually political forums….and you can tell the trolls in here
When he played for the pirates last year, chavis was a hard nose hustling ball player. I liked him…good luck with the nationals
The point you’re missing is the absurdity of all this.
Defending Michael Chavis because he’s made more money than some dick faced kid posting anonymously on the internet?
These are lame, old, and tired arguments.
It wasn’t lost in translation, it was inappropriate & inane.
You missed the satire
This is why you trade your prospects at the height of their value for proven talent instead of acting like the smartest GM in baseball.
I agree but every GM is worried they’ll trade a Soto or Trout for an “established” player.
Fear is a powerful motivator.
Like trading a teenage Fernando Tatis for an “established” James Shields in decline?
Dumb argument. He went undrafted. For every outlier, or out of nowhere future stud, there are 50 first rounders that bust out and never step foot in a major league park. You know this. I know this. Everyone know this.
Jerry Reinsdorf hates paying starting pitchers.
Padres kicked in the majority of Shields contract, and obviously had their eyes on the teenage FTJ.
So the White Sox unknowingly trade future stud for a wore out starting pitcher because of money.
But hey, go Sox !
I know this.
Wow. Now, that name is a blast from the past.
Yeah, I’m sure Seattle wishes they did that with Rodriguez or Houston with Peña.
“top 100 prospect“
I wonder how many of these have signed minor league deals this off-season. Seems like a lot.
It tells you how hit or miss the minor league guys can be and scouts most important impact is by seeing with their eyes as compared to running a computer program.
good for Mike. glad he is getting another opportunity.
Still kind of upset we gave up on this guy too early. He really didn’t have a place here but I bet we could use him now.
Really? you want Chavis “now”? 426 PAs last year and put up an OPS+ of 82. Who do you release from the 40-Man? Can’t send him down, who isnt better in Red Sox infield than him?
I think he could be given more of a chance than he had. Not the biggest on my list but not any worse than other guys Bloom picked up. Drop Ryan Brasier.
I liked him with the Pirates. Hope he does well in Washington
The Nats are set to run out a fairly young and inexperienced infield in the upcoming season, with Joey Meneses at first, Luis Garcia at second, CJ Abrams at shortstop and Carter Kieboom a possibility at third.
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Abrams & Garcia combined for a 117/12 K/W last year with the Nats, not to mention Robles 104/17. They’ve probably already ruined Robles, but Abrams & Garcia are kids. Is Rizzo aware that they can be sent to AAA to learn how to hit? This is like Jo Adell.
Any relation to Corey Chavous?
Second cousins,twice removed.
Good guy. Too bad that he has no idea where the strike zone is. Eyebrows to the ankles.
Yeah, maybe that’s true, as it was for almost all of his Pirates teammates. But I’ll say this, Chavis is a kid who went full throttle at all times and played a decent 1st base.
Given the fact that the first wave of the Pirates kids arrived here last year, often underperformed and looked like zombies when they were getting their brains beaten out, it was somewhat surprising they released him and decided to sign two has-beens.
Not an all-star but I could appreciate the effort every time out
I didn’t know Chavis was a Georgia native. I’m a little surprised the Braves weren’t in on him at this price. Could be a bargain for the Nats if he has a breakout in 2023.
He would be kind of redundant with Luplow already signed. They already have a backup OF/1B guy and Arcia can cover 2B/3B, so Chavis doesn’t really fill a hole there either.
On the Nats he has a way easier path to playing time. It’s a lot easier to imagine him getting reps over Kieboom/Meneses/Garcia than Riley/Olson/Albies.
Are you Michael Chavis’s Dad?
Yes, baseball is hard, probably THE hardest sport.
And money ain’t everything.
Tell that to the greedy players and owners
No doubt there are greedy players, but they pale in comparison to the owners.
Billionaire MLB owners continue printing money, while overall attendance has been in decline for decades.
Now that’s a nice trick.
And it makes me wonder why I take the time with being a fan of the game.
Not hard to find the period when the game began the slide downhill. prices started hiking, concessions went up, families began to not be able to afford tickets. Even family ownership would be passed down from father to son, without having to have multiple millions of dollars to run a team stashed away (Griffith family and many others) who had owned them for decades and couldn’t afford how the game had degenerated.
Many of the same posters will whine, same excuses, but FA beginnings, MLBPA and it’s incessant demands for more and more, which those same posters excuse away “worker’s rights) cost nobody but the people who buy tickets, concessions and the consumer in general in bargaining sessions, but narrow minded people are often unable to see and deal with reality.
“Many of the same posters will whine, same excuses, but FA beginnings, MLBPA and it’s incessant demands for more and more, which those same posters excuse away “worker’s rights) cost nobody but the people who buy tickets, concessions and the consumer in general in bargaining sessions, but narrow minded people are often unable to see and deal with reality.”
++++++++++++
The reality is that the douchebag Billionaire MLB Owners would ALWAYS rather make their money while tamping down on players, ALWAYS.
Regular people who are fans of the game often fail to see this — its as if the documented case of collusion among MLB owners never happened, not to mention all the owner-led lockout work-stoppages.
Same goes for holding MLB cities hostage by threatening to move their teams unless their stadiums are subsidized with local/state taxpayer money.
Control and power in everything that affects their bottom line — All ordinary people (fans or not) vastly underestimate the pathological sociopathy of the richest of the rich, to include MLB owners.
It’s all greedy…but when a player gets a 10 year 300 million dollar contract, they say no.
Yes and the owners are worse, like Bob Nutting. I love baseball, played it as a kid. Knew every pirate players stat as a kid. Sad to say I’m older now,67. I listen in the radio and watch them in TV. But my heart isn’t in it.
Someone mentioned the owners would pass the team down to their children. We had a great owner, the Galbreath family. They sold the team in 1985, when John Galbreath died. Today’s owners are just greedy idiots who will continue to ruin baseball until it finally implodes.
Greed greed greed.
I really feel for yah buddy. I think it’s good that the bucs don’t sign overpriced free agents,who always end up regressing shortly after signing their huge contracts. I just don’t understand how poorly they seem to be with rebuilding their team. I haven’t followed the Pirates much,but if a team who constantly has very poor years for 5+years.. that same team should be able to rebuild their team nicely considering how many top draft picks they will receive. I thought maybe Ben Cherington could change things(maybe he has??). Have u seen any positive changes since he came over? Just curious on ur take because ur a lifer fan for the Bucs,like I am with the Jays
Jays-They have been very poor for 3 1/2 years.
They were mediocre for the 3 1/2 years before that.
They were very good for 3 years before that,the second best record in baseball.
They have lost at a % of over 100 losses per year since mid 2019.
The jury is out.This will be either a breakthrough year to less than 90 losses or there will be serious questions posed by ownership.
Stay tuned.
Pants-You can blame the owners all you want,but the players are just as greedy.
Baseball suffers.
And the fans suffer the most of all.
For baseball lifers like myself it has taken almost all of the magic out of the game that I have loved since I was a kid.
John-I agree with you and gave you a thumbs up,but the players have a right to get as much as they can as it is a lucrative business.
There are just no real governors like there are in the other three major sports.
These outlandish contracts are a function of owners with too much money and no where to spend it.
It is the American way for many unfortunately.
The days of this being a game or even a sport are long gone.
It is big business now.
Yea I see a lot of promise. With Cruz and the young pitchers. I think they willake a big turn this year. Possibly winning 75 or more games. 2024 will be the real turning point. Now get rid of Shelton and it might happen faster
The reality is that the douchebag Billionaire MLB Owners would ALWAYS rather make their money while tamping down on players, ALWAYS.
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Absolute nonsense. Almost everyone in the world wants whatever they can get. You must live in some type of fairy land where the doctor the lawyer and the Indian chief aren’t out to make as much as they can.
And the fans suffer the most of all.
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If it helps, I am not suffering. I get the MLB package on line and catch most of the RS games, and bits and pieces of maybe 500 other games, all for $120 or so.
And I go to a few games a year. The Dominican joint on 157th serves a bucket of 6 Heinekens for $20. I usually pay $20 or so for the ticket, and maybe 1-2 more beers inside.
And I don’t give a rat’s a$$ how the owners and players split up my money. Both sides are entitled to whatever they can get, just as I am entitled to whatever I can get.
Joe- Not a bad deal for you,especially for the TV.
But I am actually talking more for the families who love baseball.If you have a wife and 2 or 3 kids you’re talking $150-$200.That can be the difference between going once or twice a year versus five or ten times.
Watching on TV is not the same as going to the game for little kids.
And even though it is still a treat,I think that if you go on a regular basis even 4 or 5 times a year you get much more of a feel for how the game is played and appreciate the nuances of the game of baseball much more.
It was magical for me and I am sure that that is true for many of us in our age group.
What’s the name of the “can’t miss” infielder for the Nats who missed, I’m going to say 3B a couple of years ago
You’re probably thinking of Carter Kieboom
@jack. Chris Marrerro?
Good to see some positive comments from Pirates fans about this guy. I feel like the Nats are trying out Danny Espinoza 2.0. But it’s probably a worthy signing if rummaging through the discards is the realm the team is restricted to, as they seem to be.
Dc-I think that every Pirate fan who I know on this site says Chavis is a good guy who is hard working.He even had a good stretch at first base,a position that he is really too short to play.I think that we all wish him well.
I personally think that he would be better perhaps at second base where hitting is not as important.
But he will not last any longer as a MLer unless he cuts the K’s by a third and doubles or triples his walk rate.
Glad to see Chavis get another chance. Could be in-line for some regular playing time in Washington if things break right for him
This could be a steal even if he improved just a little bit.
You gotta be kidding me. Is this the best you can offer your fan base. Jesus this team will be cellar dwellers for years.
Another prospect who turned out to be suspect. A great example why I withhold judgement on prospects until I see them perform for a while in the big leagues. For every star, there are ten guys who the league catches up with and wash out.
Of all the current bad teams, with the possible exception of Oakland, the Nationals are further away from relevancy than any of them.