Milwaukee Brewers Should Target Jhoulys Chacin

The biggest concern on the Milwaukee Brewers’ 25-man roster since the trade of Yovani Gallardo has been starting pitching depth. While I believe in Jimmy Nelson, Tyler Thornburg and Taylor Jungmann, there are many concerns about what happens if injuries are to happen to one or two members of the rotation throughout the summer.

Recently the Colorado Rockies shockingly granted Jhoulys Chacin his unconditional release. While he is a player that isn’t without question marks, he could be a valued and experienced piece that could step in and deliver in the big league rotation for the Brewers.

This spring while trying to come back from both rotator cuff and labrum injury, Chacin has been less than effective. Through 9.2 inning he has allowed seven runs, walked four and allowed 16 hits. These numbers have ballooned his ERA to a gigantic 6.52.

While these numbers are not at all impressive, Thomas Harding of MLB.com noted that he has also seen a decrease in velocity. At one point in his career he was averaging between 90-92 mph on his fastball, but he was clocked between 87-89 in his last start this spring. Harding also noted that over the past two seasons, he has seen a similar trend.

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But even with all of these negatives, a Chacin signing could be very valuable for the Brewers. Not only could Chacin provide rotational depth, but he could also be another long-relief option that could allow Tyler Thornburg to be used in more high pressure situations out of the bullpen.

In 2013, Chacin’s last fully healthy season, he went 14-10 with a 3.47 ERA. Even while pitching at a hitter haven in Coors Field, Chacin has been able to keep the ball in the park very well throughout his career, averaging less than a home run per nine innings in his six big league seasons. These type of numbers from the sinker-baller would be very valuable in Miller Park. Were he proven and fully healthy throughout spring, he would have probably been considered for the top spot in the Rockies’ rotation.

In major league baseball you cannot have to much pitching and adding an upside arm like the 27-year-old Chacin would give them even more depth and options on the roster. The Brewers have plenty of talented arms and have had great success resurrecting careers, if they were able to sign Chacin and get him back to form they would be very tough to beat.

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