Milwaukee Brewers: Is it time to DFA Jhoulys Chacin?

Milwaukee Brewers starter Jhoulys Chacin has struggled for most of 2019. Is it time for the team to look for answers elsewhere?

Jhoulys Chacin was, by almost all measures, the Milwaukee Brewers best starter in 2018. He kept the team in games, ate up innings, and generally compiled his way to a solid season. He finished the year with a 15-8 record and a 3.50 ERA in 35 starts. He struck out 156, walked 71, and was tagged for 18 homers.

His 2019 campaign…has been a struggle. Chacin will become a free agent in the upcoming off season. Is it time to cut him loose now?

How bad is Chacin’s 2019 season?

It’s not ‘Corbin Burnes‘ bad, but it’s not good.

Chacin owns a 5.67 ERA in 85 2/3 innings. He’s managed 75 strikeouts, but he’s allowed 38 walks, and he’s already surrendered 18 homers this year. He also owns a 3-10 record.

Chacin also needed about two weeks off with a lower back strain last month. Since his return, he’s made six starts and he’s made it through the sixth inning exactly once. Chacin was lit up in his last start against the Arizona Diamondbacks on July 19th. He was tagged for seven runs, six earned, on seven hits and one walk in 2 1/3 innings.

His 23.6% line drive rate is the highest Chacin has allowed since 2013, and his 0.99 GB:FB ratio is a career low. He’s not generating the amount of ground balls that he has in the past, and he is allowing a lot more deep flies and hard hit liners.

What are the Brewers options

Well, the Milwaukee Brewers can either keep Chacin in the rotation and hope he figures it out, or they could designate him for assignment. If he gets DFA’ed, the Brewers would have to pay the remainder of his 2019 salary minus the league minimum salary.

The Milwaukee Brewers would also have to find a starting pitcher to fill Chacin’s spot in the rotation. However, it’s not exactly a huge problem to find someone else.

As currently constructed, the Milwaukee Brewers roster technically has six pitchers capable of starting on the 25-man roster, including Chacin. Left-hander Gio Gonzalez was recently activated, and will start on Sunday against the D-Backs. Chacin is currently slated to start on July 24th against the Cincinnati Reds. If Chacin struggles to get through the third inning again, the Milwaukee Brewers should look to make a move.

Freddy Peralta is on the roster and can take the ball every fifth day. He can also swing back to the bullpen when / if the team acquires a starting pitcher at the deadline or Jimmy Nelson is ready to return…let’s hope the team finds a trade that works with their current roster solution. If the Brewers add another starter, Chacin instantly becomes the odd man out, unless he can turn it around quickly. His next start could be the beginning of the end of his time with the Brewers.