After a six-year trip around the league, right-hander Jhoulys Chacín has found his way back to Colorado.
Chacín was released by the Yankees earlier this week after 9 1⁄3 innings of Grapefruit League work. He was reportedly given the option to either 1. remain in the Yankees organization for minor league depth, or 2. pursue his big league opportunities elsewhere.
The latter has taken shape, after Chacín was spotted throwing in Denver today:
Looks as if Jhoulys Chacin just completed a long-toss session at Coors Field in front of Rockies pitching coaches.
— Nick Groke (@nickgroke) March 31, 2021
In signing Chacín, the Rockies have given themselves immediate pitching insurance while Kyle Freeland mends a shoulder strain. The additional loss of Scott Oberg has created a further pitching shortage, and with a collection of bullpen pieces holding a spring ERA above eight, the Rockies were entering the regular season in some interesting territory. Either Chacín or Chi Chi González could see a handful of starts early in the year, depending on how Bud Black will manage his rotation around some April off days. Freeland is slated to miss “at least a month.”
Chacín’s last outing with the Rockies came on June 28, 2014. Since then, Chacín has worn six different MLB uniforms (Diamondbacks, Braves, Angels, Padres, Brewers, Red Sox). His career ERA+ to this point is 120 with the Rockies, well above a career average of 108.
He has made 124 appearances in a Rockies uniform (109 starts), posting a 3.78 ERA and 1.338 WHIP. He currently ranks fourth all time in Rockies bWAR among pitchers, and his 672 innings with Colorado ranks him ninth on the all-time franchise list.
The acquisition of Chacín furthers the saga of the Rockies bringing in a tenured player in the perceived latter stages of their career. Colorado invited Ubaldo Jiménez to 2019 spring training after nine seasons away from the club; the team also brought back Matt Holliday for 25 games in 2018 after having last played for the Rockies in 2008.