The Braves signed veteran right-hander Jhoulys Chacin to a minor league contract with an invitation to big-league spring training, where he’ll compete for a spot in the starting rotation.
Like non-roster invitee Eric Stults in 2015, Chacin could have a real chance to break camp on the major league roster. A former top-of-the-rotation starter with the Rockies, he’ll be 28 in three weeks and is coming off an encouraging rebound with the Diamondbacks after being slowed by a shoulder injury in 2014.
Chacin became a non-tendered free agent last month when Arizona didn’t want to commit a roster spot or the approximate $1.8 million he was set to make through arbitration. He began the season in the Cleveland Indians organization before opting out of a minor league contract in June and going to the Diamondbacks.
After going 7-6 with a 3.22 ERA in 20 Triple-A starts for Indians and Diamondbacks Triple-A affiliates, Chacin was called up in late August and posted a 3.38 ERA in five games (four starts) for Arizona, with 21 strikeouts and 10 walks in 26 2/3 innings.
He’ll compete with a host of rookies and other youngsters for perhaps two spots in a rotation expected to include opening-day starter Julio Teheran, Matt Wisler after a solid rookie season, and recently signed veteran Bud Norris.
Since Chacin signed a minor league deal, it’s a low-risk proposition for the Braves. He doesn’t have a guaranteed contract, lessening the likelihood of blocking a young pitcher who might be ready in the spring or summer.
Chacin is 40-49 with a 3.76 ERA in 129 major league games (113 starts) over parts of seven seasons, all while pitching for Colorado (six seasons) and Arizona in two of the majors’ most hitter-friendly home ballparks. He had a 3.58 ERA in 104 games (97 starts) during 2010-2013, including 2.87 in 46 road games.
Shoulder issues limited him to 11 major league starts in 2014, when Chacin posted a 5.40 ERA. He was released by the Rockies late in 2015 spring training and signed with Cleveland three weeks later on April 14.
