The Cubs have signed 38-year-old veteran relief pitcher Jesse Chavez to a split-deal less than a week before the first spring training game in Arizona.
The 14-year pro is coming off a great season with the World Series winning Braves in 2021, when he recorded a 2.14 ERA, 1.01 WHIP and struck out 36 batters in 30 appearances. Not only was Chavez dominant during the regular season, but he went on to pitch 6.1 scoreless innings for the Braves during their World Series run in the postseason as well.
According to Gordon Wittenmyer, Chavez is back with the Cubs on a split-deal.
Cubs bring old friend Jesse Chavez back on a minor-league/split deal. Non-roster invitee. 38 year old RHP 2.14 ERA and bunch of Ks in 33.2 IP last year for ATL.
— Gordon Wittenmyer (@GDubCub) March 13, 2022
If you’re wondering, here’s what a split-deal means in MLB.
A split contract calls for a player to earn different salaries in the Majors Leagues and Minor Leagues. On player on a split contract would earn the pro-rated portion of his Major League salary for any time spent on the Major League roster.
So, the Cubs are bringing Chavez into to camp to see if he’s good to go for the start of the regular season and if he is then he’ll get a shot to be a key member of the bullpen early on.
Righty Jesse Chavez (just inked to a Minors/NRI deal) out with Cubs for this morning’s optional workout pic.twitter.com/OPbrc1oN5t
— Jordan Bastian (@MLBastian) March 13, 2022
Back in the summer of 2018, the Cubs traded for Chavez from the Rangers and he was awesome as the Cubs were trying to stabilize the back-end of their bullpen. In his 2+ months with the Cubs he pitched in 32 games and allowed a total of five runs in 39 innings, recording a 1.15 ERA and 0.79 WHIP, while striking out 42.
jesse chavez is back. was really good last yr. solid signing. now keep going, keep adding & lets put this team back together pic.twitter.com/p5TKo8psVN
— DOM (@DOM_Frederic) March 13, 2022
Following the 2018 season Chavez went back to Texas and struggled in 2019-20, but he made some changes that led to his impressive stint in Atlanta last year.
Jesse Chavez brings back 2018 memories, but his repertoire took a massive jump forward last year. He made improvements to his cutter and sinker, which led to a dominant stretch at age 37. His cutter held opponents to an amazing .271 wOBA and his sinker an even crazier .149 wOBA. https://t.co/eJhmiFYklF
— Greg Zumach (@IvyFutures) March 13, 2022
Last week, before the lockout ended, Cubs fans learned through Instagram that right-handed reliever Codi Heuer underwent Tommy John surgery, which obviously takes him out for all of 2022 and leaves the team with one fewer option to pitch in high-leverage spots. If Chavez is at 100% throughout camp, he’ll be slotted into those late-inning situations out of the bullpen for David Ross.
