Major League Baseball

San Diego Padres Sign Jhoulys Chacin to One Year Contract

Updated Mar. 4, 2020 8:43 p.m. ET

Fansided, David Hill/FanSided via Call to the Pen

The San Diego Padres starting rotation is in quite a bit of flux. They solidified one spot in the rotation yesterday, signing Jhoulys Chacin to a one year deal.

With the San Diego Padres in full rebuild mode, there are quite a few young players vying for places on the roster. That is particularly true with the starting rotation, where veterans Tyson Ross and Andrew Cashner have departed in the past few months. With virtually the entire rotation wide open, the Padres need a great deal of help.

Yesterday, they made a move to help solidify their starters. In a signing with a great deal of upside, the Padres have signed Jhoulys Chacin to a one year deal, pending a physical. Barring any other moves, he immediately becomes the most tenured pitcher on their roster.

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It is certainly an interesting move. While Chacin’s overall numbers may not inspire confidence, he did perform better than his statistics would indicate. Overall, between the Braves and the Angels, Chacin posted a 6-8 record with a 4.81 ERA and a 1.444 WHiP, striking out 119 batters in 144 innings.

However, over his last six outings, including four starts, Chacin was a different pitcher. In those 27 innings, he had a 1.33 ERA and a 1.000 WHiP, striking out 25 batters in 27 innings. Opponents hit at a meager .204/.255/.270 clip against him, generating ground balls as he was able to induce opposing batters into weak contact.

At just 28 years old, Chacin is still just entering his prime. If his performance over those final six outings of 2016 carries forward, the Padres could have gotten quite the steal for next year, and possible trade bait at the deadline. If nothing else, the eight year veteran can serve as a solid mentor for the young Padres pitching staff.

The San Diego Padres may not have had any proven arms in their starting rotation, but Jhoulys Chacin helps solidify their pitching staff. On a one year deal, it is the perfect low risk, high reward signing.