The Texas Rangers today announced that the club has signed free-agent right-handed pitcher Jesse Chavez to a one-year contract for the 2018 season. To make room for Chavez on the Major League roster, the team has placed left-handed pitcher Joe Palumbo on the 60-day disabled list.
Chavez, 34, had a 7-11 record and 5.35 ERA (82 ER/138.0 IP) over 38 games/21 starts last season with the Los Angeles Angels. He has pitched for seven different clubs spanning a 10-year Major League career, going 33-51 with a 4.69 ERA over 353 games/70 starts with Pittsburgh (2008-09), Atlanta (2010), Kansas City (2010-11), Toronto (2012), Oakland (2012-15), Toronto (2016), Los Angeles-NL (2016), and Los Angeles-AL (2017). Chavez has posted a 4.45 ERA, 1.364 WHIP, and 7.7 strikeouts per 9 innings over 70 career starts, and has registered a 4.96 ERA, 1.410 WHIP, and 8.2 strikeouts per 9 in his 283 relief outings.
Originally signed by the Rangers after being selected in the 42nd round of the 2002 June Draft, Chavez spent his first 3 1/2 professional seasons in the Texas organization before he was traded to the Pirates on July 31, 2006 in exchange for right-handed pitcher Kip Wells.
With the signing of Chavez, the Rangers have 67 players on the club's Spring Training roster: a full 40-man roster, 26 non-roster invitees, and one player (Palumbo) on the 60-day DL. Three pitchers on the list of non-roster invitees are rehabbing from 2017 Tommy John surgery: Chi Chi Gonzalez, Shawn Tolleson, and Edinson Volquez.