Chávez joins the Braves on a minor league deal

ATLANTA – The return of Jesse Chavez to the Braves was the easiest prediction of the offseason.

So it wasn’t surprising when the Braves signed Chavez to a minor league deal on Saturday. The veteran reliever will earn a $1.2 million fee when he makes the Atlanta active roster.

Chavez has grown into one of the Braves’ most trusted and reliable relievers, posting a 2.49 ERA in 86 2/3 innings for Atlanta over the past two seasons. The 39-year-old right-hander was designated for assignment by the Cubs and Angels in this stretch.

The Braves promoted Chavez from Triple-A nearly three months into the 2021 season and saw him post a 2.14 ERA in 30 appearances (33 2/3 innings). Chavez signed with the Cubs last winter but was slated for the job after just three appearances. This led to Chicago trading him to Atlanta for Sean Newcomb, who had no future in the Braves system.

Newcomb’s trade for Chavez drew much derision on social media over the summer. But the most valuable trade came on Aug. 2, when the Braves traded Chavez and Tucker Davidson to the Angels for Raisel Iglesias, who may be Atlanta’s closer for the next three years.