Attempting to create a makeshift starting rotation after losing both Andrew Heaney and Garrett Richards to what seem to be serious shoulder injuries, the Los Angeles Angels added Atlanta Braves starter Jhoulys Chacin in a trade on Wednesday.
#Braves are finalizing a trade of RHP Jhoulys Chacin to #Angels. He had been scheduled to start tonight for ATL.
— David O'Brien (@DOBrienATL) May 11, 2016
Minor league reliever Adam McCreery, a 22nd-round pick of the Angels back in 2014, is said to be headed to Atlanta in the deal.
Chacin, 28, had posted a 1-2 record with a 5.40 ERA and 1.39 WHIP in five starts for Atlanta prior to the deal.
The former Colorado Rockies ace is years removed from being a reliable pitcher in the Majors, having posted just four wins in 20 starts over the past two-plus seasons.
He, however, does bring depth and experience to an Angels rotation that’s sorely going to miss Richards over the long haul.
It was reported last week that Richards will likely have to undergo Tommy John surgery after pulling up lame and being scratched from his most recent start on Friday.
Richards was just recently placed on the 60-day disabled list.
This might be a minor move, but it’s something the Angels needed to do in order to even field a five-man rotation moving forward.
It also comes at a cheap cost. Chacin is owed just $1.1 million on a minor league deal he signed with Atlanta during the winter. Giving up a low-level prospect also won’t kill the Angels already depleted farm system.