CORRECTION: Twins Have Not Signed Veteran Reliever Jesse Chavez

[Matthew Trueblood]

The Minnesota Twins have not reached an agreement with reliever Jesse Chavez, despite our earlier report. We deeply regret the error and apologize to any people impacted by our errant report.  

Image courtesy of © Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports

Earlier today, based on multiple sources within the Twins organization, we misreported that the Twins had reached a major league deal with reliever Jesse Chavez with whom they were in discussions. Based on new information, we now believe that a deal is not in place and is unlikely to happen.

We would never have run this if we weren't confident that an agreement had been reached, but we failed to get a more exact understanding of an inherently fluid situation. We feel terrible and want to apologize to anyone impacted by our inaccurate story. 

We're sorry we let you down and Twins Daily's community down. We will keep the comments open to discuss our mistake and respond to your feedback as we strive to get better and prevent this from happening again. 

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[CRF]

I honestly have no idea what to make of this signing. I guess my first thought was...wtf? There had to be better options out there. 

[GKuehl]

This is an interesting move considering the current depth of the bullpen. This likely bumps Staumont to AAA to start the season since he has an option remaining, which is unsurprising considering the injury he's trying to overcome and his spring performance (6.35 ERA in 5.2 innings). 

Chavez has performed pretty well the past few years (1.56 ERA last year in 34.2 inning and 3.76 ERA in 2022 in 69.1 innnings), so maybe he has a bit left in the tank to help overcome the early-season losses of Duran and Thielbar. 

 

[bean5302]

I don't understand the move unless the Twins are going to cut bait on a different MLB contract bullpen veteran. That said, Chavez was good last year.

1.56 ERA, 3.05 FIP, 3.40 xFIP with Atlanta. His K/BB rates and ground ball rates were very good in Spring Training. 33.3% HR/FB rate and a .458 BABIP led to the gaudy ERA. I haven't watched his game to know whether it was luck (probably) or just ineffective pitches.

[Hheimer]

It's a long season. A  season that hasn't even begun yet and injures are already piling up. There will be more injuries during the season. It's a low risk high reward signing. 

[Dave The Dastardly]

So much for the vaunted pipeline.

[Parfigliano]

If its not a good sign to get cut by the CWS how is it good for the Twins to sign him?

[IndianaTwin]

Resulting move being DeSclafini to the 60-day IL? 

[Karbo]

They think it's better to sign a guy that one of the worse teams cut, instead of taking a look at some of the youngsters or even some of the other guys they got over the winter? They have looked awful this spring. I know it's just ST but they have really sucked so far. Now this?

[IndianaTwin]

Over the last two years, a 1.15 WHIP and 2.26 ERA, with a K/BB of 3.85 and K/9 of 10.2.

If he can do that again, he’ll be one of the most effective guys in the pen. As @Hheimer said, low-risk, high-reward, particularly after a couple injuries. 

[saviking]

1 hour ago, GKuehl said:

This is an interesting move considering the current depth of the bullpen. This likely bumps Staumont to AAA to start the season since he has an option remaining, which is unsurprising considering the injury he's trying to overcome and his spring performance (6.35 ERA in 5.2 innings). 

Chavez has performed pretty well the past few years (1.56 ERA last year in 34.2 inning and 3.76 ERA in 2022 in 69.1 innnings), so maybe he has a bit left in the tank to help overcome the early-season losses of Duran and Thielbar. 

 

Staumont seems less and less like a good signing. 

[joefish]

How am I gonna be an optimist about this?

[miracleb]

1    Can he start? (wish)

2   He must have "sneaky Maeda stuff?"

[Guest]

Bleh.

Winning needs to become a habit.  ST is useful for a lot of stuff, but the closer we get to opening day, I'd like to see this team start to develop that habit....

[Guest]

I am anxiously awaiting my emergency podcast to download. 😀

[darin617]

No harm in signing Chavez. I would imagine it would be for league minimum. So if he doesn't work out it's not that big of deal.

I wouldn't be against the Twins signing one of the following starting pitchers to a minor league deal with an opt out of like May 15th or so. Mike Clevinger, Matthew Boyd, or Vince Velasquez. That would give them all time to get ready since they didn't have a spring training and would be nice insurance if any starter went down. And giving them an opt out gives them a chance to leave if there are no openings in the rotation.

[Jocko87]

Topa to the IL with a knee maybe makes this make more sense.  It's a volume game for relievers I guess.

[David HK]

At last, a reason to believe. 

[sweetmusicviola16]

Once again another "low risk" move. The greater risk has been taken by this organization this off season as we head into the regular season. The greater risk being not taking any risks.

This signing actually makes me feel less enthused about this club. Sorry.

[KnoblauchWasFramed]

It's becoming harder and harder to take this team seriously.  We're down two top bullpen arms for several weeks and this is what they figure will help get the team off to a solid start to the season and stay competitive ???

It's like the Twins are trying to be the Happy Gilmore of baseball,  "Come on down to Target Field and take a gander at the amazing 41-year-old soft throwing ball guy.  Look at this zany and wild old guy trying to strike out these kids"

 

[jmlease1]

2 hours ago, Karbo said:

They think it's better to sign a guy that one of the worse teams cut, instead of taking a look at some of the youngsters or even some of the other guys they got over the winter? They have looked awful this spring. I know it's just ST but they have really sucked so far. Now this?

keep in mind that as a terrible team they don't exactly have a lot of need to have a old reliever. He's almost certainly better right now than some of the guys they kept, but isn't going to be part of their plans for the future. The roster spot was probably more valuable to them than the performance, since they're not trying to win at all.

My only fear with a move like this is that they might keep the veteran with limited upside after guys get healthy over the younger player with better performance just to keep the asset rather than have the best 8 guys in the 'pen. But it probably won't come to that and if he can still get guys out (and he did fine last season) it's a fairly low-risk move that could help, probably won't hurt.

Edited March 24, 2024 by jmlease1
spelling

[Rod Carews Birthday]

Not exciting, but pretty useful.  This is the rough equivalent of signing Keuchel last year, only the bullpen version.  The season isn’t going to hinge on this guy, but he could be a useful bridge player.

Deals like this around the margins have virtually no risk and could provide nice returns.  It may not be the big starting pitcher signing we wanted, but it’s more than nothing.

 

[Linus]

I noticed Julio Tehran is going to opt out. I would snap him up too if he will take a minor league deal. 

[DJL44]

I love how you can see the photographer's lighting rig in his glasses.

[Oldgoat_MN]

1 hour ago, joefish said:

How am I gonna be an optimist about this?

I suggest you look at his ERA, FIP, K/9 and ERA+ for 2021, 2022 and 2023.

[Fatbat]

This is the best signing of the offseason. The south siders are the guys going young and dumb. I’ll take Jesse and the old man savvy all day long. Our pipeline is still there and will be used plenty. We need guys like Maeda and Chavez that know how to actually get the batter out. A middle inning shut down guy that messes with the other team. Perfect signing. Whiteys will finish last in the AL central.

[USAFChief]

"Best bullpen in the game."

 

Heh

[Mark G]

I sense that this is one of those "low risk, possible high reward" moves by a team that has no fear of the division they are in.  If he does well, great; if he doesn't, well......a game here and there isn't going to mean much in this division. 

 "the Twins have signed one of the more beloved clubhouse guys in MLB."  Maybe, in a division we expect to win, this is the value we see most of all.  I hope he does well.   

[ashbury]

38 minutes ago, USAFChief said:

"Best bullpen in the game."

Well, now anyway.

[h2oface]

Twins Daily Rumors. Being first drives us. Whoops