After spending 16 years in Major League Baseball, right-handed pitcher Jesse Chavez is nearing the end of his career. During a recent appearance on MLB Network Radio’s “Loud Outs,” Chavez revealed his intention to retire after the 2024 season. Despite being a free agent at the moment, the 40-year-old reliever had a highly productive season with the Atlanta Braves not long ago.
Expressing his thoughts on retirement, Chavez stated, “I think this is probably going to be it. We all talked about me going out the way I came in – being able to roll out of bed and pick up a baseball and throw it. And that’s how I feel, still. So I feel like that’s kind of unique, in a way, where we don’t get that option too many times where we can go home healthy.”
Chavez’s baseball journey began when the Texas Rangers selected him in the 42nd round of the 2002 MLB Draft. He made his major league debut in 2008 but was later traded to the Tampa Bay Rays in 2009. Subsequently, he moved to various teams, including the Atlanta Braves, Kansas City Royals, Toronto Blue Jays, and the Oakland Athletics, where he spent over three seasons.
During his time with the Athletics, Chavez achieved a record of 17-27 with a 3.98 ERA, 1.325 WHIP, and 2.5 WAR. His career took him through brief stints with the Blue Jays, Los Angeles Dodgers, Los Angeles Angels, Rangers, and Chicago Cubs. A two-year return to the Texas Rangers stabilized his career, and a remarkable 2021 season with the Braves marked a resurgence.
Although the beginning of 2022 presented challenges with both the Cubs and Angels, Chavez returned to the Braves and regained his form. Remaining with the team in 2023, he accumulated a Braves career record of 10-7 with a 3.08 ERA, 1.184 WHIP, and 3.1 WAR. In the last season alone, Chavez went 1-0 with a 1.56 ERA, 1.096 WHIP, and 1.4 WAR, striking out an impressive 10.1 batters per nine innings.
As the 2024 season approaches, with pitchers and catchers reporting to Spring Training in less than two weeks, Chavez’s next destination in the MLB remains uncertain. Regardless of where he lands, it could potentially mark the final chapter in his extensive major league journey, during which he earned approximately $23.8 million in salary.