Former Dodgers Reliever Released Just Days Before Start of Regular Season

Former Dodgers reliever Jesse Chavez has been released by the Chicago White Sox, just days before the start of the new season. Chavez played for Los Angeles in the second half of the 2016 season after being acquired from the Toronto Blue Jays at the trade deadline for pitcher Mike Bolsinger.

Chavez, 40, signed a minor league deal with the Chicago White Sox earlier this winter that came with an invitation to Spring Training. The veteran threw seven innings this spring, posting an ERA of 11.57 and eight strikeouts.

He appeared in 23 games for the Dodgers in 2016, posting an ERA of 4.21. He struck out 21 batters and put up a WHIP of 1.40 in 25.2 innings for Los Angeles.

The veteran has been in the league since the 2008 season when he came up with the Pittsburgh Pirates. He has bounced around, playing for many teams throughout his long career including the Atlanta Braves, Kansas City Royals, Toronto Blue Jays, Oakland A’s, Los Angeles Angels, Texas Rangers, and Chicago Cubs.

He was a member of the 2021 Atlanta Braves team that took down the Dodgers in the NLCS on their way to winning the World Series.

His time in the big leagues may be coming to an end if no team picks him up, but he built a very solid career for himself. Chavez has a career ERA of 4.30 with a record of 49-63. He has thrown 1070.2 career innings and has struck out 981 batters.