Braves bring back an old friend for a fifth stint

Chavez was recently released by the White Sox after he agreed to a minor league contract with Chicago last month. The veteran is entering the 17th season of his career and is coming off an All-Star-caliber campaign, in which he posted a 1.56 ERA over 34.2 innings with the Braves in 2023.

Chavez and the Braves have some sort of gravitational pull towards one another. He’s already had four separate stints in Atlanta, including three in the last three years and a World Series ring. His run with the Braves is that of a Disney movie.

In 2021, Chavez was thrust into a role on the major league roster out of necessity but would go on to appear in 30 games and record a 2.14 ERA during the regular season. In the playoffs, he was even better, appearing seven times without allowing a run en route to a championship.

In 2022, Chavez began the year with the Cubs but returned to the Braves before being moved at the deadline for Rasiel Iglesias. He was eventually waived by the Angels after underperforming, and Alex Anthopoulos was waiting to pick him up.

The Braves legend pitched well for the club in 2022 and returned in 2023. Last year, he was off to the best start of his career, but a line drive off the bat of Miguel Cabrera brought all of it to a screeching halt.

He missed most of the rest of the season, an unfortunate ending to a great season. Now, he’s back with the organization. Knowing Jesse Chavez, he’ll be called upon and deliver at some point this season for the Braves.