Update (Nov. 11, 5:00 p.m. PT): The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim officially announced the signing of former Los Angeles Dodgers relief pitcher Jesse Chavez. Rafael Ortega was designated for assignment to clear room for Chavez.
Along with acquiring Rich Hill and Josh Reddick from the Oakland Athletics prior to the Aug. 1 non-waiver deadline, the Los Angeles Dodgers also traded for relief pitchers Jesse Chavez and Josh Fields.
Mike Bolsinger was sent to the Toronto Blue Jays in exchange for Chavez. He’d spent the 2014 and 2015 seasons working as a starting pitcher for the Athletics, but was exclusively used out of the bullpen by Toronto this season.
In 39 games with the Blue Jays, the 32-year-old went 1-2 with a 4.57 ERA, 4.80 FIP and 1.28 WHIP. Dodgers general manager Farhan Zaidi said the club viewed Chavez as a swingman.
Chavez pitched to a 4.21 ERA, 1.40 WHIP and had 21 strikeouts over 25.2 innings pitched across 23 games, all of which were out of the bullpen.
The local product reached free agency this offseason, and according to ESPN’s Jerry Crasnick, agreed to a one-year contract with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim under the notion of returning to a role as a starter:
Jesse Chavez has agreed to a one-year, $5.75M deal with the #Angels. Can make $3M more in incentives. Signed as a starter.
— Jerry Crasnick (@jcrasnick) November 11, 2016
Chavez signed for just shy of $6 million, per Jon Heyman of Today’s Knuckleball:
jesse chavez agrees to $5.75M angels deal. @jcrasnick 1st
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) November 11, 2016
Chavez proved valuable for the Dodgers as he was a new option in a bullpen that shouldered a heavy load throughout the season. Given he was largely ineffective, Chavez was left off the National League Division Series and NL Championship Series rosters.
The eight-year righty is 15-23 with a 4.14 ERA in 29 career starts. In similar fashion to the Dodgers, the Angels struggled to keep a healthy rotation this season.
