Pitcher Jhoulys Chacin Stays In The Mile High City, Agrees To A 1-Year Deal

By Jordan Long

The Colorado Rockies are looking at ways to improve the team this offseason.  They ended the 2021 season at 74-87, missing the MLB postseason for the 3^rd year in a row.  They believe a step in the right direction was to keep pitcher Jhoulys Chacin.

                Chacin joined the Colorado Rockies on March 31^st, 2021.  This was after spending time in the New York Yankees organization.  He could have stayed with New York in their minor league system in hopes of being called up to pitch at the Major League level but there was no guarantee of that depending on how the Yankees were playing. It could be that Chacin spent the whole year at the minor league level.  The other option was to look for a team who would give him a shot at pitching at the Majors.  The Rockies took a chance on Chacin.

                This was Chacin’s second stint with the club.  He previously pitched for the team from 2009 to 2014, mostly as a starter.  He was 41-50 with a 3.83 ERA.  Chacin left Colorado following the 2014 season and bounced around the league.  He pitched for the Arizona Diamondbacks, Atlanta Braves, Los Angeles Angels, San Diego Padres, Milwaukee Brewers, and Boston Red Sox.  In the COVID shortened 2020 year, Chacin pitched for the Braves. He pitched 5 innings with an ERA of 7.20.  His record was 1-0. 

                Chacin was let go after the 2020 season and the Yankees thought he could be a fit for the team.  It didn’t work out.  The Rockies knew they needed bullpen help and took a chance on him.  The Rockies were the team that gave him his first opportunity and he was familiar with the organization.

                Chacin was a reliever for the Rockies, appearing in 46 innings.  He had 37 strikeouts with a 4.34 ERA.  Chacin’s problem though was walks and hits.  There were times where Chacin couldn’t find the strike zone and he walked a batter, totaling 28.  He gave up 53 hits including 8 home runs.

                Colorado thought it was best to keep him in Colorado to develop the bullpen.  The Rockies agreed to a 1-year $1.25 million contract with Chacin.  He has a chance to continue to pitch in Colorado. Chacin should be a middle relief pitcher.  If he can pitch in tight games to keep the Rockies in games, Colorado’s record may improve.  The worst case is he struggles and Colorado lets him go.