Photo: Jim Cowsert / USA Today
Photo: Jim Cowsert / USA Today

Cubs trade for veteran reliever from Rangers


by -

CHICAGO – The Chicago Cubs tonight acquired right-handed pitcher Jesse Chavez from the Texas Rangers for minor league left-handed pitcher Tyler Thomas.

Chavez, 34, is 3-1 with three holds, one save and a 3.51 ERA (22 ER/56.1 IP) in 30 relief appearances with Texas this season. He has walked only 12 while striking out 50 in 56.1 innings, an average of only 1.9 walks per nine innings. He has pitched more than an inning in 18 of his 30 appearances this year, including 2.0 or more innings in exactly half of his outings. Chavez is 2-1 with one save and a 2.35 ERA (10 ER/38.1 IP) in his last 21 appearances starting May 4.

The righthander has spent all or part of 11 seasons in the majors with seven different clubs, going 36-52 with three saves and a 4.61 ERA (409 ER/799.0 IP) in 383 appearances, including 70 starts, with Pittsburgh (2008-09), Atlanta (2010), Kansas City (2010-11), Toronto (2012, 2016), Oakland (2012-15), the Dodgers (2016), the Angels (2017) and the Rangers (2018).

Chavez has pitched exclusively in relief this year after making 21 starts (out of 38 total appearances) with the Angels last year. He pitched solely in relief for the Blue Jays and Dodgers in 2016, combining to make 62 outings.

Thomas, 22, was selected by the Cubs in the seventh round of the 2017 Draft out of Fresno State. He has gone 3-5 with one save and a 2.88 ERA (24 ER/75.0 IP) in 15 appearances, all but one as a starter, this year for Single-A South Bend.

Chicago’s 40-man roster now stands at 39 players.

Comment on this story
Print   
Post your comments!