MARCH 27: The Angels have re-signed Jay to another minor-league deal, per a club announcement.
MARCH 26: The Angels have released outfielder Jon Jay and right-hander Jesse Chavez from their minor league contracts, per a club announcement. Both are once again free agents. As Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic points out, Jay’s release makes it quite likely that Juan Lagares, another non-roster veteran in camp with the Halos, will make the club as a backup outfielder.
Jay and Chavez become the latest in a long line of veterans to either opt out or be cut loose from minor league deals around the game, as teams whittle down their camp rosters with Opening Day looming. Both Jay and Chavez were Article XX(B) free agents — that is, players with six years of service time who were in camp on a minor league deal after finishing the 2020 season on a big league roster — and could have been retained into the season had the Angels been willing to pay a $100K retention bonus. Instead, they’re now free to pursue opportunities with other clubs.
The 36-year-old Jay struggled quite a bit this spring, going just 2-for-29 with an uncharacteristic 10 punchouts in 33 plate appearances. Jay, who can play all three outfield spots, is typically a contact-oriented lefty bat with a good approach at the plate, but the past couple seasons haven’t been particularly pretty.
He’s coming off a rough showing in 18 games with the 2020 D-backs, when he posted just a .160/.211/.240 batting line through an admittedly tiny sample of 57 plate appearances. Jay hit for a solid but fairly empty average with the ChiSox in 2019 when he batted .267/.311/.315 in 182 trips to the dish.
Like Jay, Chavez struggled this spring on the heels of an ugly 2020 showing. He was tagged for seven runs in 4 1/3 innings with the Angels during Cactus League play, and he was knocked arounf for a 6.88 ERA in 17 innings with the Rangers last season. The veteran righty had an outstanding season as recently as 2018 but has labored through 95 innings since that time.
Jesse Chavez is cooked. Dude has a personality and a half, but it was a pain watching him trot out from the pen recently.
Agreed. Angels fan here – Jesse is a local product who was easy to root for. Got a lot out of his ability and hung in there for a nice pro career.
Released Jon Jay?
This is Unconstitutional!!!!!
SMH
Jon Jay’s been waiting for them to declare his independence ever since he signed.
Hahaha!
OG Chief Justice
When America was America……….
That was good though, made me laugh and thank you for that!
America has been a more perfect union than it is today.
Baseball gods have finally spoken. Thank You! Jon Jay was starting to be a real pain to watch. I was starting to get worried he was gonna make the team over guys like Jose Rojas or Lagares. Now if only Dexter Fowler could somehow be the next one in line to get the boot all my prayers would be answered lol. I’d much rather have Lagares, Schebler, or Taylor Ward platoon for RF I personally think they have an opportunity to be more productive than a 35 year old Fowler coming off a season in which he produced 0 WAR and was borderline below average.
Well thankfully for us Angels fans u don’t make decisions. Fowler is a great clubhouse presence. Plus he hit .260 and a .349OBP last year against RHP. he just can’t hit lefties. I will take that OBP in front-facing Trout and Rendon all day
Fowler is awful. He’s going to bat 9th and he can’t play defense.
A RF who can’t catch and bats ninth shouldn’t be playing.
I’d much rather give Schebler a shot.
And you think the Angels need Fowler for clubhouse presence?
@jmac70 lmaoooo Please! People like you is why Angels fans get ridiculed. You’re soo clueless you don’t realize Fowler is not sniffing the top of the lineup lol. The guy bats 9th for a reason, and I sure hope that “clubhouse presence” helps the team while Fowler is hitting .235 and playing awful defense in right.
Both were given a shot, neither played well.
Jon Jay’s release is criminal, and it proves there’s no justice (in sports).
In Scioscia days, Chavez would have gotten the opening day nod and Jay would have platooned with Trout in Center. I love Maddon and Manasian. They are not afraid to cut away the dead weight.
Unlike Mike Scioscia and his diet!
Rimshot!
Cut Fowler and then I’ll start to believe you.
The cutting of Chavez and Jay could not have been more obvious.
The cutting of Fowler is just as obvious.
maddon must be sad seeing one of his former players go.
Welcome to the Oakland A’s rotation Jesse Chavez
Cubs legends Jon Jay and Jesse Chavez
Have to think if LaRussa was the one in charge of his roster they’d have kept Jay. He was one of Tony’s guys in St Louis and he keeps his loyalty to players too long. This should be a sigh of relief for Sox fans.
Jay 36, Chavez 37, might be the end of the line for both
Noooooooo!!!! Chavez was the future, chhaavveezz was the future….
Did he pitch?
Jon Jay could go back to the Cardinals or White Sox!!
Jay will go home.
I guess he’s not ready to call it a career yet. First callup when Upton or Trout hit the IL?
Pirates could bring Chavez back.