The Angels have agreed to a minor league contract with free-agent right-hander Jesse Chavez, reports Jon Heyman of MLB Network (Twitter links). He’ll join their Major League camp once the deal is official and once he goes through intake protocols.
It’s the second Angels stint for Chavez, who struggled as a member of the Halos back in 2017 (138 innings, 5.35 ERA). He went on to rebound with the Rangers and Cubs the following season, parlaying that strong showing into a two-year pact to return to Texas.
The 37-year-old Chavez is a well-traveled and experienced arm who has pitched both as a starting pitcher, a long reliever and a late-inning/high-leverage reliever. After bouncing between the Pirates, Royals, Braves and Blue Jays early in his career, Chavez found himself with the 2013 A’s and has been a steady presence on MLB rosters since that time.
Dating back to that 2013 season, the righty has piled up 755 2/3 frames of 4.18 ERA ball with a matching 4.18 FIP and a 3.87 SIERA. Along the way, he’s started 77 games and made 248 relief appearances while posting a solid 21.4 percent strikeout rate and a strong 7.1 percent walk rate. The 2020 season was a rough one, as Chavez yielded 13 runs in 17 innings of work, but his overall track record is that of a versatile arm who’ll help deepen the Angels’ rotation and bullpen mixes.
Rangers29
THANK GOD!!!
As for the Angels…
Scott Worden
Why Angels?? I guess he can serve as a mop up guy.
Geno55
I am Waiting for the haters
Vizionaire
you must have fell in love with this move. these kind of moves are to help the team. take a look at his stats. absolute uselessness!
swinging wood
Have fallen
Vizionaire
absolutely useless move.
Halo11Fan
Why hate a meaningless move?
baseballpun
Hahaha Angels suck.
Loling @ you
Must suck to see dodgers up the road having continued success and now padres down south doing the same. Yet your team just can’t get it right with the best player in baseball
DTDATL
To be fair, the Angels had a long run of significance while your team was trash. Both teams have the same number of WS wins over the last 35 yrs
Loling @ you
Same number as Braves as well. When Atlanta isn’t choking, when was there last ring? Still salty about last year being up 3-1
Halo11Fan
and the Dodgers have a hard time winning if the have to play more than 100 games
Loling @ you
Long run of significance? Outside of 02 and 05 they were a first round exit yearly by the hands of Red Sox and Yankees. Standards are low
Halo11Fan
You forgot 2009.
If you are World Series Champions in 2002 and win your division in 2004,05,07, 08 and 09. You are significant…DUH!!!!!!
DODGER JR
Halo you need a freaking drug test. To compare the Dodgers to the Dog Sh&t Angels is an embarrassment. The Dodgers won 104 games in 2017, 92 games in 2018 and 106 games in 2019 genius all in 162 game seasons. They had the best record last year in a 60 game season which by the way with 2 extra playoff teams per league your Dog Sh*t Angels still couldn’t make the playoffs. It would take the Angels 6 or 7 years to win as many games as the Dodgers have in the past 4 years.So keep running that yap HaloFan and one day your team might catch up to big brother. Moron!!!!!
Vizionaire
in 2019, angels sweeped the dodgers when their bullpen was strong. btw, 1988, a drug saturated hitter saved dodgers behind.
Halo11Fan
I didn’t compare the Dodgers to the Angels. You need a reading comprehension test.
WorstThrowEver
Angels won their WS over a full 162 and the Dodgers won less than 60 games to get theirs. Hopefully they show up this year cuz their only title this millenium comes with one of these *
Geno55
Dodger Jr
What about the Frank McCourt days the Angels were the hot ticket not the Dodgers
Cap & Crunch
Not so sure the Angels are significant getting Trout 13 career abs in his career to date….. But I guess significant is subjective
Halo11Fan
And if had gotten more than one hit in those 13 ABs he would have had a lot more.
Loling @ you
All salty fans can do is throw shade at a shortened season hahaha soooooo salty
Halo11Fan
I don’t give a leap about the Dodgers shortened season. I would never go on a Dodger thread and rip the Dodgers. Fans that go on threads about teams they don’t root for and stir up trouble are weasels. Fans that do that have serious issues.
Loling @ you
Bro your literally on almost every post spewing negativity when it doesn’t concern angels 95 percent of the time. Lol get a life
Halo11Fan
You mean as an Angel fan when I write about how the Angels had a chance to fix the pen and acted stupidly?
Yep, been there and done that. And I don’t go on threads about the A’s or Dodgers or Indians or any other team and bash that team.
Are you an Angel fan? If you want to talk about the Angels, go ahead.
If you are a Dodger fan and you are here talking garbage, you have issues.
In 2004, 5 7, and 9 the Angels lost in the playoffs to the eventual World Series Champion. In 2002, they won the World Series.
Only a moron would say the Angels didn’t have a long run of significance.
HaloBoltman
Tasaumaki let me know as soon as the Padres win their first world series then we’ll worry about down south.
Hammerin' Hank
Give it a rest dude. You’re always on here making Dodger fans look stupid, which for the most part they aren’t. Spewing negativity is something you spend your whole days doing. The Dodgers have choked as much as any team in baseball over the last 50 years. All those good to great teams and only 2 titles to show for it since 1965. Sounds like choking to me bro. Lol.
Halo11Fan
H.H. Three titles. Two in sixty game seasons or less.
Guyh
Hahah
DODGER JR
Right here Geno. Once again Artie 99 cent Moreno gets another bargin bin garbage player on the cheap.
Geno55
Dodgers were in a downhill spiral many years When Murdoch and McCourt own the Dodgers and the angels were winning when Disney own the Angels
Now you’re getting on your high horse after last years Shortened season
You guys choked the last previous World Series LOL
Cap & Crunch
@ Geno– What’s better than Best? The Dodgers are/ and have been for many years the best team in MLB ….. you sure one of those homes wasn’t yours?
If you don’t understand the randomness of playoff baseball you have a long ways to go to join in intelligent discussions around here (if you can find them ) – They have been to 3 of the last 4 WS and were cheated in 1 ……
Mystery Team
How have the Dodgers been the best team in baseball for many years?? That’s a silly comment. Last year maybe but does it really count?? I think the World Series and every award handed out last year were all bogus. The only people who think that title is legit are Dodger fans and of those fans how many are actual baseball fans? Get the Robitussin out this year boys cause it’s back to business as usual for the Dodgers which is the best record in the NL followed by another choke job.
Cap & Crunch
“If you don’t understand the randomness of playoff baseball” ………….. Me
“it’s back to business as usual for the Dodgers which is the best record in the NL” …..You
1+1 = ……….
Guyh
Comedy, like it being a shortened season meant teams wanted to win it less. If anything I’m sure every team took on the mindset that they could win it being a shorter season.
Don’t get mad because your team doesn’t have 7 aces like The Dodgers.
We’re still accepting ban wagon fans ^_^
HalosHeavenJJ
Ok. Long relief will likely be greatly needed this year. Chavez is a nice guy who grew up not far away.
But……hard to see a ton of value in this signing. Not a lot of risk, either.
Halo11Fan
I disagree, Long relief should not be greatly needed. The Angels already have Barria and Pena. And Suarez and Sandoval, Slegers in the minors ready to be called up What the Angels don’t have are pitchers that can be expected to hold the lead I close games.
HalosHeavenJJ
You hold a vastly lower impression of Iglesias than everyone else. Most view him as the best closer we’ve had in years. We’ll see.
The bridge getting from 5 inning pitchers like Heaney, Canning, and Cobb to Iglesias will be well trodden this year. We’ve seen the middle relievers simply ground down year after year.
Barria and Pena will be the first wave, but there will definitely be a second or third wave needed.
DODGER JR
Iglesias is another Kenley Jansen. If Iglesias was so good why would the Reds just give him away. The Dodgers go out the get players like Betts and Bauer why the Angels go the cheap way and put together a pathetic pitching staff with bondo and gorilla glue to hold it together. Keep thinking the Angels are any good HaloFan.
Halo11Fan
What. When did I insult Iglesias? If you carry 8 RPs, two long RPs are plenty. But they have to be good RPs, Which we only have one… Iglesias.
Rsox
2020 numbers need to be taken with a grain of salt as last season was basically extended spring training. Guerra and Buttrey are decent bridges to Iglesias. I don’t know why the expectations of so many Angels fans are that they should sign every starter and reliever available. The Angels rarely spend on starters and almost never spend on relievers. This has been common practice since Arte bought the team
DODGER JR
Rsox someone that knows a thing about how the Angels operate!!!!! How refreshing on this site. HaloFan and his buddies are convinced the Angels will win 100 games and make the WS with a garbage pitching staff.
Halo11Fan
Hyperbole much Dodger Jr.? Why do you people feel the need toco e on a thread about a team you don’t root for and flat out lie. You must have issues.
Cap & Crunch
Dodger Jr is a huge troll no doubt but I think hes sorta right here-
The Dodgers and Angels are in different stratospheres
Your “over 100 games” kinda invited this attention tho wouldnt ya say Halo?
lavey
first off, Dodgers Jr is an idiot, I’m sure you’ve noticed. Don’t forget Mayers, he should be our 8th inning guy. We’ve tried to sign pitchers, but they went elsewhere.
HalosHeavenJJ
The tables in SoCal have definitely turned. The Angels were crushing it early in the 2000’s. A WS ring, lots of AL West titles, packed houses. Meanwhile the Dodgers were going through tough times highlighted by the eventual bankruptcy.
Dodger Jr. probably wasn’t around for all of that. If he was, he wasn’t popping off like he is now that they’re on top. LA is a huuuuge front runner market.
But over the last 5-6 years the franchise trajectories couldn’t be more different. The Dodgers brought in a top notch front office and gave them unending resources. Meanwhile Arte has blown cash on aging, ineffective sluggers and cut the front office to the bone.
Halo11Fan
Oh, You’re not talking about my claim of 100 games. Wrong Halo. I’m hoping the Angels can win 88 games. But to do that, the pen needs to over achieve.
With the exception of cheaters, I don’t go on threads of other teams and rip their players or fans. What’s the point?
oldmansteve
The Angles are building a heck of a roster for 2014.
Vizionaire
2010
Geno55
Talking about building did you see where dodger Stadium its built on Chavez Ravine pulled away From Hispanic families ripped off Their land way below market value From all those poor Hispanic families homes stolen so they could build dodger Stadium how quickly you forget once you got a couple of nickels in your pocket to rub together
oldmansteve
Well if they punctuate like you, they deserved it.
Ducky Buckin Fent
& it’s getting upvotes,@Nebraska –
It is so absolutely perfect I took a screenshot of it. It’s inspirational. In it’s own special way.
SoCalADRL
Nailed it
kellin
Its a minor league signing, but … huh?
Halo11Fan
I was about to say the same thing… huh. Slegers is the first man called up if there is an injury. I guess Chavez would be the second.
HalosHeavenJJ
Don’t forget Guerra or Sandoval (I like him out of the bullpen for some reason).
Halo11Fan
The plan is for Guerra to make the team. Barria will take up the first open spot in the rotation. Sandoval has better stuff than every pitcher the Angels added not named Iglesias.
HalosHeavenJJ
I think that’s the plan with Guerra, too. Just a question of whose 40 man roster spot he takes. Of course, any reliever going on the IL to open the year solves that problem, at least temporarily.
Cap & Crunch
Halo it seems the plan is to throw a buncha sh@t at the wall and see what sticks
Halo11Fan
Like what Capt? Any specifics or are you just being a jerk. My guess it’s the later.
Cap & Crunch
Its Feb 26 th Halo….If it were Dec 26th my take would be different
I never try to be a jerk, I call it like I see it, the Angels Bp is a mess and I doubt theres a plan at all
Yes I have a plan, Ive shared it with you many times. Stop overusing the pen, define some roles along the way, dont kill Buttery
Its too late to talk about free agents but I was all about Colome, Petit , and Trevor May for them before free agency started ..
I think they will get greater length from the starters this year which should help , Id like to see Buttery healthy with first crack at the 8th …
Halo11Fan
Capt, I misread your post. I thought you implied I was throwing mud on the wall. You’ve been reasonable. I was surprised you were attacking me.
As you wrote, The Angels are throwing mud against the wall and hoping some sticks. They are going to blow a lot of games before figuring out the mud that sticks.
Bucket-o-Balls
Bridging from the 5th inning to the 9th all season is going to be a tall, tall order for this club as currently composed – especially if they intend to go with a 6-man rotation. That would necessitate some seriously creative bullpen management. Thankfully, Maddon is known to be a creative manager, among very few who I think could be up to it.
Personally, I think as long as you have your starters doing bp days in between starts, why not make them available for an occasional inning or two on that day? I believe this team can win a lot of games – even enough to make a good playoff run, with reasonable health and some good game management. But their margin for error will be much smaller than some of the better built teams out there.
Still, I was really hoping more for an Odorizzi announcement rather than a used up Chavez…
ron cey
nice guy with cool tattoos but if I remember right he walked a lot of batters.
WorstThrowEver
Can’t wait for everyone in these comments to overthink a minor league deal. And if anyone is confused, google the phrase “pitching depth” and you can try to figure it out from there.
dirkg
SoCal product, cool guy. Not sure how much is left in the tank. We shall see.
Rsox
Chavez is like a soldier. Two tours of duty in Toronto, two in Texas, and now a second tour in Anaheim
cookmeister 2
waiting for Halo11’s take…
Halo11Fan
I gave my take. Chavez is no one and he’s not taking up a spot which should have gone to a much better pitcher.
Giantsfan775
He looked like a villain from Sonic the hedgehog with that hair last year.
mlarr64
Auditioning for Pitching coach? lol
DarkSide830
ChavezPog
DockEllisDee
This guy throws baseballs
prov356
Welp…he is a pitcher.
Angels & NL West
Another one year, depth signing with an eye toward 2022 when money comes off the books and the young SP (Canning, Detmers, Rodriquez, Sandoval, etc) have another year under their belts. Alas, this won’t move the needle in 2021.
Vizionaire
those need to wait foryhrir turns while arte signs a ss for $30 mil per season.
DodgerOK
I bet Trout feels much better about this season now!
Geno55
Can you tell me why the dodger fans boo Mike Trout when he comes up to the plate at dodger Stadium are dodger fans jealous or are they a bunch of low class Bums?
Just asking
Geno55
Anybody got any answers one of the nicest guys in baseball does so much for kids the face of Major league-baseball why does Mike Trout get booed at dodger Stadium
Cap & Crunch
Trout , himself, would probably be more disturbed if he didn’t get those BOOs at Chavez . It’s called Greatness Geno, ill stop here as the waters getting a little too deep for ya now
DodgerOK
Can’t answer for LA fans at the stadium as I haven’t lived there for 25 years. I would never boo Trout. He is an all-time great.
Geno55
I wish more dodger fans were civil like you towards the Angels I would never go to another board and rip apart someone’s team
I understand that we’ve become a rivalry but we don’t have to be bitter towards each other
weggiejackson
But can he pitch…sorry, just continuing the trend of typical responses to Angel signings. Seems to apply here
Bluemarlin528
Are we signing him as the new pitching coach?
pustule bosey
kinda interesting that chavez, kazmir and milone all signed in the last few days – it is like a revival of the 2014 A’s rotation
Robertowannabe
Well, at least for this deal, Angels fans don’t have to ask if the player can pitch besides playing their normal field position. The question for Jesse is….can he still Pitch.
Jesse was involved in 2 Pirates deals. The first was one of Dave Littlefield’s late deals before he was canned and was a good trade, sending a washed up Kip Wells for him. Then he was one of Neal Huntington’s early deals and an it was a stinker, shipping Jesse to Tampa for Aki Iwamura. Hated that deal when it happened.
kingsfan1968
Nice. Old GM would have paid him big $$$ like he did to Harvey, Allen, Cahill, Tehran.
Cuso
A poor man’s Oliver Perez….
A rich man’s Oliver Perez…
Oliver Perez part deux
DarkSide830
we should compare all players to Oliver Perez. Mike Trout is a rich-man’s-Oliver-Perez-but-he’s-a-hitter.
Robertowannabe
Mike Trout would prolly pitch like a poor man’s Oliver Perez provided that he would throw left handed to be more like Oliver. Now that would be interesting 🙂
Rangers29
Oliver Perez is Oliver Perez
DockEllisDee
I thought it was just some of her Perez
SoCalADRL
Angels trying to counter the Dodgers signing of Bauer
yamsi1912
Again? Lol
sonorawind
The Angels are the kings of dumpster diving for pitchers……….but, seriously, diving into the SAME DUMPSTER??!!!
They need to upgrade to dumpsters in a better part of town. Quit checking the dumpsters behind Salvation Army and Goodwill. Nothing of value there!!
SwingtheFNbat
Relax! He’s try out for the league, and a safety net in case the Angels have a injured ravaged pitching squad breaking camp.
angelsfan4life
Most people on here, the Angels have the worst pitching staff in the majors. The Rockies, Red Sox, Rangers, Tigers, Diamond Backs, all say hi. Name me one starter the A’s have that is so much better than what the Angels have? The Astros have Grienke and a bunch of question marks on their starting staff. Do they have anyone left in their bullpen? Seattle, well they are Seattle. You take Gonzalez off of Seattle starting rotation, they would be worse than the Angels. Every AL West team has huge holes that leaves question marks. Do I believe the Angels are the best team in the AL West? No. But it’s not as big of a gap as people want to make it to be. The A’s and Astros lost key players this off-season. Tell me one key player the Angels lost?
Halo11Fan
The Angels don’t have a bad pitching staff.
I fear they don’t have a top of the line starter, but who in this division does?
The Angels have a lot of starters capable of being solid. And I say that without including Cobb or Quintana. They have a chance to be mediocre, they have almost no chance of being solid.
angelsfan4life
Hallo11Fan like I’ve said before, Cobb should be the long reliever over Barria. Barria struggles with his location early in the game, which is not good for a reliever. Cobb is built more as a typical long reliever. Same as Pena. I would feel better if the Angels would have deepened the bullpen over getting what they got this off-season.
bigguccisosa300
Was awful for the Jays, but I know he rocks badass cars haha
Vizionaire
wow, he does. and a tank, too!
BirdieMan
They need to sign Odorizzi
Halo11Fan
They don’t have room for Odorizzi. If you would have said the Angels needed to sign Odorizzi before they acquired Quintana or Cobb, I would have agreed with you.
theodore glass
They still need to sign him. Way better than those scrubs.
hoff38
We all must remember several relievers have been overused then they go through a period of trash statistically. At times Jesse was a stud for the Rangers then was awesome for the Cubs. Once they started stretching him out asking for more innings he lost velo and control. If not over used he will throw some quality innings. Really good signing if he is healthy and fresh. We can’t just read his annual stats and “know” if he will be good or bad. Relievers are very different than starters.
Vizionaire
angels had a chance to sign jeremy jeffress for cheap. he would have been the second best in the pen pitching in 8th.
Halo11Fan
Once the Angels signed Claudio, the Angels had very little wiggle room to add pitchers to their pen. Once they signed Guerra, that wiggle room was gone. Then, I was surprise how few people noticed. Now, I’m really shocked how many fans still don’t see it.
alexthegod
Nothing wrong with picking up veteran arms on minor league deals. You never know when guys might break through. Zero risk for the team
mattybats1980
Good pickup for the Halos. Stockpile arms…
SugaMonkey
And just when I thought the Angels were going to let me down this off-season they go and do nothing!
Great job!
chazz
Finally the bullpen move to put them over the top! Good job Arte!! Great team you have there!!
Guyh
These are the pathetic moves that don’t get you anywhere but knocked out of any sort of playoff series
urnuts
Same GM but different name. What the F.
I’m tired of this S
No Moore!