Just prior to the 1 p.m. PT non-waiver deadline the Los Angeles Dodgers acquired right-handed reliever Jesse Chavez and cash considerations from the Toronto Blue Jays in exchange for Mike Bolsinger.
Chavez spent the 2014 and 2015 seasons working as a starting pitcher for the Oakland Athletics, but was exclusively used out of the bullpen by Toronto this season. In 39 games with the Blue Jays, the 32-year-old went 1-2 with a 4.57 ERA, 4.80 FIP and 1.28 WHIP.
His 24.3 percent strikeout rate is one-tenth of a percent off from matching a career high, while Chavez’s 5.8 percent walk rate this season is on pace to set a new career-best mark. The majority of his troubles have come with the home run as Chavez is allowing two homers per nine innings.
The veteran right-hander is 25-40 with two saves and a 4.55 ERA in 292 games (49 starts) over parts of nine seasons in the Majors. Bolsinger’s tenure with the Dodgers comes to an end after he was acquired from the Arizona Diamondbacks in November 2014 for cash considerations.
He filled an immediate need for the Dodgers last season as Brandon McCarthy and Hyun-Jin Ryu were lost to injury. Bolsinger was on track to be part of the rotation come Opening Day this season, only to suffer an oblique strain.
He went 7-10 with a 4.27 ERA in 27 starts over two seasons with the Dodgers. Bolsinger’s struggles this year resulted in him switching to a relief role after being optioned to Triple-A Oklahoma City.
The Dodgers’ transactions on Monday also included sending pitching prospects Jharel Cotton, Grant Holmes and Frankie Montas to the Oakland Athletics in exchange for Rich Hill and Josh Reddick.
