The Braves re-signed righties Jesse Chavez and Zach Thompson to new minor league contracts, per their transaction log at MLB.com. Both players were recently designated for assignment and passed through outright waivers unclaimed. Both elected free agency, and both had short stays on the market.
It seems that with regard to Chavez in particular, this cycle will play out in perpetuity. He can’t simply be optioned to the minors, but he’s clearly content to continue functioning as what’s effectively the 41st man on Atlanta’s 40-man roster. The team will likely continue to summon Chavez to the majors when a fresh arm is needed, then run him through the DFA/waiver process and re-sign him.
The 41-year-old Chavez has now pitched with Atlanta in each of the past five seasons. He’s departed on minor league deals with several other clubs but always found his way back to Truist Park. Chavez has pitched three big league innings this year, allowing a pair of runs on four hits and three walks with three strikeouts. He’s been outstanding in 8 1/3 Triple-A innings (one run, five hits, one walk, 13 strikeouts) and has a terrific 2.96 ERA in 204 MLB innings over the past five years, nearly all of which have come with Atlanta.
Thompson, 31, pitched 3 2/3 scoreless innings with Atlanta this season but was roughed up a bit in 4 1/3 minor league innings. The right-hander had a nice showing as a rookie with the Marlins in 2021 but struggled following a trade to the Pirates in the 2021-22 offseason. He’s totaled 200 1/3 innings at the MLB level and carries a 4.36 ERA, 18.3% strikeout rate and 8.6% walk rate. Thompson sits in the low 90s with his heater and doesn’t miss many bats, but he’s a nice spot start option to have stashed in Gwinnett — particularly with both Reynaldo Lopez and Spencer Strider on the injured list at the moment.
And to the surprise of literally nobody, Chavez is back in town.
“Back in town”..Back? Jesse doesn’t ever actually leave “town”. Just who do you think has been running up that huge tab at Atlanta’s downtown Marriot Hotel for the last couple of weeks?
Wouldn’t he be staying at The Battery hotel out behind right-center?
What exactly is the advantage of this cycle of choosing free agency and then re-signing? Does Chavez get a few extra bucks each time, opposed to if he just accepted a minor league demotion?
“Is the advantage of this”…For Atlanta it’s depth(and flexibility) and an extra pitcher(who’s always close by)without tieing up a permanent roster spot. The “advantage” for Jesse Chavez? You’d probably have to ask Jesse Chavez.
Most players would have too much pride to let themselves be used as Chavez lets himself be used by the Braves–but apparently he doesn’t.
It amuses me that people are offended by what the Dodgers do–which is entirely legitimate–but aren’t offended by the Braves’ roster chicanery.
“It amuses me that people are offended by what the Dodgers do–which is entirely legitimate–but aren’t offended by the Braves’ roster chicanery.”
Yea what the Braves are doing isn’t going to be a huge difference in the balance of competition. That’s why people care about what the dodgers are doing and it the Braves in this circumstance. It’s pretty obvious why some maybe more upset at what the dodgers are doing and not the Braves
He gets rest. Hooks up with his woman for a few days and goes back to work. The life.
Where can I find a woman like that?
Like Jessie’s Girl
That’s a lot of exit interviews…
To my understanding, Moonlight, it alleviates the need for the 10-day minimum when he is sent back down. As soon as he re-signs, he’s eligible to pitch, even within the 10-day window.
So, it allows the Braves to skip the time frame if they need him sooner, and allows Chavez to bypass a mandatory minimum stay in the Minors. At least, that’s my understanding of it.
@yankee thanks for the clarity on the rules. Didn’t have any idea but now the revolving door experience makes sense.
Actually, you might have a point. Might be time for mlb to investigate. Could be possible that a form of unofficial compensation and an unofficial deal are in place to essentially allow atlanta to circumnavigate mlb roster rules.
But doesn’t he have to pass through waivers before he can be resigned? 29 teams have to say they don’t want him?
@Coolbeans…Yes, he does have to pass through waivers. Any MLB team can stop this from happening by picking him up.
I don’t think it is really circumnavigating the MLB roster rules when every team is given a chance to pick him up off waivers
Guys, you mean “circumventing,” not “circumnavigating.” Circumnavigating means going around the world.
Shocker. Billy Martin’s ghost to manage Yankees in 2026 too.
Only to be fired by George Steinbrenner’s ghost a few days later…..
He should run for Mayor of Atlanta after he retires.
He might have become a free agent but he never left georgia
Jesse’s always got Georgia on his mind.
m.youtube.com/watch?v=BcZbK93Zfk4
He has a Georgia state of mind, one might say.
This is the NINTH separate time Chavez has been acquired by the Braves
What is the record?
I didn’t read this article.
Give it a try.
I can’t recall the number off the top but Effectively Wild talked about this question on an episode a few weeks back
Chavez has now signed 3 contracts with the Braves since the start of March.
Either Chavez doesn’t like the contract or the Braves don’t like the contract . Chavez / can you release me so I can get a better contract next week.
…or Atl is circumnavigating mlb roster rules and Chavez is getting something out of the arrangement.
Considering they’ve all been minor league contracts and the two sides seem to be on good terms, I highly doubt it’s because either party doesn’t like the contract. Jeremy320 is probably right, doing this to keep Chavez around without having to constantly DFA him.
@mlb1225
The Braves do have to DFA him. They did on April 27. He passed through waivers on April 29 and Chavez elected free agency. Every MLB team has the opportunity to claim him off waivers or sign him to a minor league contract after he elects free agency.
No way. Way. No way. Way…
Chavez was a 42nd round draft pick and turned that into 14+ years of MLB service time, and $25M+. Not bad man.
Not bad a’tal.
Pretty- pretty- good
I don’t know why Larry David came to mind
Like death and taxes…
Braves: “Jesse you’re fired. See ya next week”
Hi, Alex Anthopoulos (if you see this in the comment).
May want to hold onto those Jesse Chavez jerseys, Atlanta fans!
They need a Jesse Chavez Bobblehead Night.
This Jesse Chavez emotional roller coaster is more than most of can bear!
*of us can bear!
Snip, snap! Snip, snap!
Hell in a Cell match between Jesse and Casey Lawrence. Winner never gets DFA’d again and loser had to retire.
Bruh, this is like the best version of roster manipulation, right in your face.
Should be poll:
Will Jesse Chavez Retire as a Brave,
Or other team?
Obviously Thompson isn’t great but we are so bias about fastballs. 92 with good movement can be great (even lead to lots of Ks). Remember Eovaldi throwing 100 and striking out 5 per 9. It’s such a blanket way of analyzing pitchers. I’m sure when Chavez was putting up a sub-2 era he would have appreciated someone saying “he only throws 90. But he could be useful to stash at AAA for a spot start.”
It’s possible to become a Jesse Chavez journeyman for 1 team
Rinse repeat
It feels like they’ve dropped and resigned him 5 times this season already
The Atlanta baseball park is very much not in Atlanta.
Chavez is the friend with benefits who always comes back when they both feel like it.
Chavez is a robot. Dude is becoming a living legend. Gotta love baseball.
MLB should consider a limited option rule for veteran marginal players to allow them stable employment without going through waivers. Someone like Chavez or Lawrence could be the 41st player on the roster and benefit themselves and the team as long as both agree to the arrangement.
When he retires he will become the asst bullpen coach or a minor league pitching coach for the Braves.