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Rangers Sign Jesse Chavez, Cody Thomas To Minor League Deals

By Darragh McDonald | January 27, 2025 at 3:40pm CDT

The Rangers announced that they have signed right-hander Jesse Chavez and outfielder Cody Thomas to minor league deals. They also announces previously-reported pacts for righty David Buchanan and catcher Chad Wallach. Chavez is represented by Apex Baseball and Thomas by Octagon. Both of them will be in big league camp as non-roster invitees.

Chavez, 41, has already written a lengthy baseball story. He debuted in the big leagues back in 2008 and has appeared in each season since then, suiting up for nine different clubs, having multiple stints with many of them.

That includes the Rangers. Chavez was drafted by Texas way back in 2002, but was traded to the Pirates prior to making it to the majors. He eventually found his way back to the Rangers, signing with them going into 2018, though he was traded to the Cubs that summer. Going into 2019, he came back to Texas yet again, signing a two-year deal at that time.

Despite his age, he has proven himself still capable of getting major league hitters out. He spent 2024 with Atlanta and tossed 63 1/3 innings over 46 appearances. He allowed 3.13 earned runs per nine frames, though there may have been a bit of luck there. His 20.8% strikeout rate was subpar but his .279 batting average on balls in play and 80.3% strand rate were both on the fortunate side, which is why his 4.43 FIP and 3.81 SIERA were higher than his ERA.

There’s no real harm in the Rangers bringing aboard an old friend via a minor league deal. The club has been trying to remake its bullpen while dealing with some notable financial restraints. Kirby Yates, David Robertson, José Leclerc and Andrew Chafin all hit free agency after last year, but the club has been a bit frugal in replacing them since it seems they want to stay under the competitive balance tax.

They acquired Robert Garcia, who has not yet qualified for arbitration, in the Nathaniel Lowe trade. They’ve also given one-year pacts to Chris Martin, Jacob Webb, Shawn Armstrong, and Hoby Milner, with no one in that group getting more than $5.5MM. It’s unclear what kind of salary Chavez would make if selected to the big league roster, but it’s likely not huge, so he provides the club with yet another modestly-priced addition to the relief group.

Thomas, 30, got into 29 games with the Athletics over the 2022 and 2023 seasons. He hit .250/.308/.333 in those but was outrighted off the roster and became a free agent going into 2024. He headed to Asia last year to play for the Orix Buffaloes of Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball. He went hitless in 18 at-bats and was mostly kept on the farm by the Buffaloes, slashing .263/.335/.324 in 79 games in the minors.

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Texas Rangers Transactions Cody Thomas Jesse Chavez

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45 Comments

  1. Rsox

    5 months ago

    Chavez 3rd tour of duty with Rangers following 3 different stints with Atlanta. He might just be the first player to have 3 different stints with two different teams if he cracks the Rangers roster

    1
    Reply
    • kellin

      5 months ago

      Yep. And he had two different stints with the Angels and Cubs, too.

      2
      Reply
      • Bucket Number Six

        5 months ago

        Twice with the Jays, too.

        1
        Reply
    • Bucket Number Six

      5 months ago

      Actually, this is his fourth stint with the Rangers organization as he signed as an amateur with them. He was traded to the Pirates where he made his MLB debut. He has switched organizations 21 times in 23 professional seasons.

      3
      Reply
      • El Kabong

        5 months ago

        Thanks to everyone for all the information on Jesse’s stints. He can be a one-man category on Immaculate Grid.

        2
        Reply
        • Roidville Slugger

          5 months ago

          I was going to say, this doesn’t even add to his immaculate grid eligibility…

          Reply
        • kellin

          5 months ago

          Thanks for the immaculate grid shout out. Never heard of it, but I’m far from a baseball nerd to even guess these answers!

          Reply
        • Roidville Slugger

          5 months ago

          That with my morning coffee every day, is my happy place…

          Reply
        • El Kabong

          5 months ago

          Yes. Coffee, Immaculate Grid, and remembering a catcher who played a portion of a game at second base.

          2
          Reply
        • Roidville Slugger

          5 months ago

          Could go Craig Biggio, but the percentage would be too high…

          Reply
        • DroppedThirdStrike

          5 months ago

          Austin Barnes

          Reply
        • El Kabong

          5 months ago

          @DroppedThirdStrike

          I go with ex-Yankee Roy White, who played one game at 2B in 1965.

          Reply
        • Roidville Slugger

          5 months ago

          If I don’t feel like thinking, I always go Jose Oquendo…

          Side note: was so proud of myself the other day with Randy Johnson as a HOF LF…

          1
          Reply
        • El Kabong

          5 months ago

          Excellent. And don’t forget Stan Musial as a HOF pitcher.

          1
          Reply
        • Roidville Slugger

          5 months ago

          Had to look that one up. One batter?!?! Looks like it was a gimmick, with him facing the #2 batting avg. leader…behind Musial of course.

          1
          Reply
        • El Kabong

          5 months ago

          It was a gimmick, and Musial threw just one pitch. To his credit, he wasn’t into the idea (although he did it anyway). Here’s a Reddit link with some details.
          reddit.com/r/baseball/comments/1diw2ai/stan_musial…

          Reply
    • Benjamin101677

      5 months ago

      Wondering when I saw this how long before he is back with Braves again; seems like he always ends up back with them

      1
      Reply
  2. johncoltrane

    5 months ago

    Jesse age 24-33: 4.69 era, 1.39 whip
    Age 34-40: 3.38 era, 1.21 whip

    He is just now hitting his prime lol

    9
    Reply
    • unpaidobserver

      5 months ago

      Back then he was always one strike away from getting out of it…before walking the bases loaded and giving up a grand slam.

      Reply
  3. TrillionaireTeamOperator

    5 months ago

    Whoah Jesse Chavez…. talk about a blast from the past.

    I wonder who will sign Clevinger to some minor/major split contract that pays him whatever pro-rated portion is left of $3M if he’s called up.

    1
    Reply
  4. TheYankeesFan99

    5 months ago

    He Will Be Back To Atlanta

    9
    Reply
    • Whyme

      5 months ago

      Was just going to post this lol

      Reply
      • TAKERDBACKS

        5 months ago

        Lol same

        Reply
    • holecamels35

      5 months ago

      I came here to say this. He won’t make the Rangers out of ST and will latch on with the Braves yet again and put up a sub 3 ERA.

      3
      Reply
  5. Clofreesz

    5 months ago

    Jesse Chavez is back? Whenever I hear is name mentioned I feel old…

    Reply
    • El Kabong

      5 months ago

      Don’t feel bad. Jesse probably feels the same way.

      1
      Reply
  6. DarkSide830

    5 months ago

    That’s not Old Man Jesse Chavez to the Braves.

    1
    Reply
  7. Non Roster Invitee

    5 months ago

    40 year old reliever you’d think he’d at least be a lefty.

    1
    Reply
  8. cbraves

    5 months ago

    I could have swore I saw where Jesse Chavez was going to retire after last year.

    3
    Reply
    • kellin

      5 months ago

      Yep. There was a report on Feb 3 2024 stating 2024 was going to be his last year. Apparently he changed his mind.

      Reply
  9. bhambrave

    5 months ago

    Jesse is like my 2005 Tundra.. Just now getting broken in.

    3
    Reply
    • TheJoker

      5 months ago

      ,,,or like my ’99 Camry…. losing its paint and gathering some rust on the roof… but still gets you where you want to go… a la Jesse. LOL!

      4
      Reply
      • slowcurve

        5 months ago

        He’s like my ‘02 Tacoma… still has that new car smell, if you ignore the other smells and that weird rattle sound.

        1
        Reply
    • braveshomer

      5 months ago

      Love the Toyota references lol….got an 81′ pickup still kicking and aging like fine wine. I bet Jesse drives a yota as well, it’s where he gets the inspiration to keep going haha

      1
      Reply
      • Mercenary.Freddie.Freeman

        5 months ago

        I got a 86 Thunderbird with just over 72000 miles. Wish I had several.

        1
        Reply
        • bhambrave

          5 months ago

          ‘64 Corvair Spyder with 96,000. I bought it when I was 16, in 1976.

          Reply
  10. vaderzim

    5 months ago

    I’m glad he did. Love it when players in their 40s can keep going.

    3
    Reply
  11. Jesse Chavez enthusiast

    5 months ago

    The legend continues!

    2
    Reply
  12. IronBallsMcGinty

    5 months ago

    They made a huge mistake signing Thomas to a minor league deal?

    2
    Reply
  13. slowcurve

    5 months ago

    See ya back in Atl in July, Jesse!

    1
    Reply
  14. SJG

    5 months ago

    Braves must have some low-level prospect the Rangers like.

    Reply
  15. Jump 84

    5 months ago

    Dude.

    Reply
  16. wifflemeister

    5 months ago

    Go get ’em Jesse!

    See ya in Atlanta around June or so.

    Reply
  17. highflyballintorightfield

    5 months ago

    If memory serves, Cody Thomas had monster 2020 Spring training and was on track to make the Dodgers. Then the league shut down, then he suffered an injury the second 2020 pre-season, and that was that. I would like to see him make it somewhere, but time is getting short.

    1
    Reply
  18. El Kabong

    5 months ago

    I’m not into bobbleheads, but Chavez should have one. The Rangers need to be petitioned on this matter.

    Reply

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