Veteran Pitcher Jesse Chavez, 41, Retires From MLB

Veteran right-hander Jesse Chavez announced his retirement Thursday. He had 657 appearances over 18 seasons with nine different clubs. The final appearance for the 41-year-old came on July 13 for the Atlanta Braves against the St. Louis Cardinals.

Chavez Retires From MLB

Time to Turn the Page

Chavez announced his retirement during an appearance on the “Foul Territory” show. The announcement comes a week after he was designated for assignment for a third time this season by the Braves, the team for which he’s pitched the most during his career.

“In all honesty, I haven’t picked up a baseball since my last pitch in St. Louis (July 13),” Chavez said. “As of now, I don’t think we’re going to keep going. I think this is it. Time to turn the page, focus on the next chapter in my life, and go help all the young kids so they don’t have to take two steps back to take three steps forward.”

Chavez Contributed to Multiple Teams Throughout His Career

Chavez, a 42nd-round MLB draft pick by the Texas Rangers out of Riverside City College (California) in 2002, made his MLB debut with the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2008. He was traded to the Braves after the 2009 season for the first of what would be several stints with the team. In between his first season in Atlanta in 2010 and his last season in 2025, Chavez also pitched for the Kansas City Royals, Toronto Blue Jays (twice), Athletics, Los Angeles Dodgers, Los Angeles Angels (twice), Rangers (twice), and Chicago Cubs (twice).

Though he made 85 starts during his various stops, Chavez was mostly a reliever during his 657 appearances in the Majors. He compiled a 51-66 record and a 4.27 ERA. Chavez is believed to be the most-traded player in MLB history and has had successful stints for multiple teams, but he seemed to take things up a notch when he suited up for the Braves.

During parts of six seasons with Atlanta, he pitched to a 3.30 ERA with 228 strikeouts in 229 1/3 innings. Chavez also had a 0.00 ERA in seven postseason appearances during the Braves’ 2021 World Series championship run. It will certainly feel odd knowing that he will no longer be in the Braves organization, but Atlanta’s roster could look very different sooner rather than later, so this could just be the beginning of their transition to a new-look roster.

“Uncle Jesse” is Ready to Coach

Chavez has expressed a strong desire to transition to coaching kids, stating he’s had coaching-related conversations for the past few years and now feels the time is right. He wants to use his experience to guide and mentor younger players, helping them avoid setbacks and achieve their goals.

Not only that, but Chavez also says he’s ready to avoid the feeling of “biting (his) fingernails” while watching games, suggesting he’s ready to move on from the competitive aspect of playing. Chavez could certainly be in for a major surprise once he finds out that coaching won’t be any easier on the nerves.

Final Thoughts

Chavez’s contract with the Braves expired at the end of the season. He was designated for assignment and elected free agency after clearing waivers, indicating a lack of desire to continue playing, and bouncing back and forth between the Minors and Majors most likely began to take its toll.

Chavez’s career was notable for its longevity and the number of teams he played for. The 2021 World Series champion will always be a fan favorite in Atlanta, and anyone who can be productive in the Majors while in their 40s deserves a big round of applause.

“This has been a great ride, way more than I expect, too, from a 42nd round Draft pick,” Chavez told the “Foul Territory” crew, noting how he was always looking for ways to make adjustments so he could stick around in the Majors. “I always said I want to go out the way I came in — being able to roll out of bed and throw a baseball. And fortunately, I’m still able to do that.”