Nationals' Michael Chavis: Signs minor-league deal with Nats
Rotowire
Chavis signed a one-year minor-league contract with the Nationals on Monday, Andrew Golden of The Washington Post reports.
The deal does not include a roster invite for spring training, so Chavis will have to prove himself in the minors before getting a potential call-up during the season. The 27-year-old struggled to a .229/.265/.389 slash line over 401 at-bats last year with the Pirates, producing 14 home runs, 49 RBI, 39 runs and one stolen base while appearing in 129 games. Considering the lack of star power on the Nationals' roster, Chavis should have a shot at the big-league level at some point this summer.
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Michael Chavis: Set to test market
Rotowire
Chavis elected free agency Oct. 6.
The 27-year-old corner infielder will presumably have to settle for a minor-league deal in free agency this winter after he struggled to solidify himself as a short-side platoon player for the Pirates by the end of this past season. Though he smacked 14 home runs and drove in 49 runs over 426 plate appearances, Chavis got on base at a weak .265 clip and struck out 29.6 percent of the time.
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Pirates' Michael Chavis: Clears waivers
Rotowire
Chavis cleared waivers and was outrighted to Triple-A Indianapolis on Friday, Alex Stumpf of DKPittsburghSports.com reports.
Chavis slashed just .229/.265/.389 with 14 home runs, 49 RBI, 39 runs and a stolen base over 129 major-league games this season and was designated for assignment by the Pirates on Monday. However, he'll remain in the organization ahead of the offseason after he went unclaimed on waivers.
The Pirates designated Chavis for assignment Monday.
Chavis went hitless in his last six games and has slashed .160/.216/.259 with a 33 percent strikeout rate in his last 24 contests. It's possible another organization will pick up the struggling 26-year-old off waivers, but otherwise he'll head to Triple-A Indianapolis.
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Pirates' Michael Chavis: On bench Sunday
Rotowire
Chavis is out of the lineup for Sunday's game versus the Cubs, Kevin Gorman of TribLive.com reports.
Chavis is hitless in his past 19 at-bats and will take a seat Sunday after he started the past two games. Zack Collins will take over at first base and bat eighth.
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Pirates' Michael Chavis: Still on bench Thursday
Rotowire
Chavis isn't in the lineup Thursday against the Cubs, Kevin Gorman of TribLive.com reports.
Chavis has gone 0-for-12 with four strikeouts over the last four games, and he'll head to the bench for the third time in the last four matchups. Zack Collins is starting at first base and batting eighth.
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Pirates' Michael Chavis: Riding pine Wednesday
Rotowire
Chavis isn't starting Wednesday against the Yankees.
Chavis has gone 0-for-10 with four strikeouts over his last three games but will retreat to the bench for the second time in the last three matchups. Zack Collins is starting at first base and batting eighth.
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Pirates' Michael Chavis: Heads to bench Sunday
Rotowire
Chavis is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Mets.
Chavis started the previous four contests and will take a seat after he went 4-for-14 with a double, four RBI and two runs in that span. Zack Collins is starting at first base and batting eighth Sunday.
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Pirates' Michael Chavis: Takes seat Tuesday night
Rotowire
Chavis is not in the lineup for the second game of Tuesday's doubleheader against the Reds.
Chavis went 2-for-5 and scored twice in the first game on the docket, but he will head to the bench for the nightcap to open up a spot for call-up Zack Collins.
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Pirates' Michael Chavis: Drives in two
Rotowire
Chavis went 1-for-4 with a triple, two RBI and a run scored Friday against the Cardinals.
Chavis has had his path cleared as Pittsburgh's primary first baseman with Bligh Madris back at Triple-A Indianapolis and Josh VanMeter off the 40-man roster. Chavis hasn't taken advantage of that opportunity, as he entered Friday's game hitting only .152 with a 43 percent strikeout rate across his last nine games. However, he delivered a two-RBI triple in the eighth inning Friday and now has extra-base hits in each of his last two starts. For the season, Chavis owns a .238/.268/.412 line across 377 plate appearances.
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Pirates' Michael Chavis: Not starting Game 2
Rotowire
Chavis isn't starting the second game of Wednesday's doubleheader against the Mets.
Chavis started at first base during Wednesday's matinee and went 2-for-4 with a double and a strikeout. He'll take a seat while Ben Gamel starts at first base and bats cleanup in the nightcap.
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Pirates' Michael Chavis: Gets breather Sunday
Rotowire
Chavis is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Blue Jays.
Josh VanMeter will fill in at first base while Chavis rests after manning the position for each of the past six games. During that six-game stretch, Chavis went 3-for-22 with a home run, a walk and nine strikeouts.
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Pirates' Michael Chavis: Gets fourth straight start at 1B
Rotowire
Chavis will start at first base and bat seventh in Wednesday's game against the Brewers.
Chavis will pick up his fourth consecutive start Wednesday and looks poised to operate as the Pirates' primary first baseman for the time being following Bligh Madris' recent demotion to Triple-A Indianapolis. Over 23 games in August, Chavis is slashing .243/.254/.457 with four home runs and 10 RBI.
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Pirates' Michael Chavis: Blasts 14th home run
Rotowire
Chavis went 2-for-4 with a solo home run and an additional run scored in a 4-2 win over the Brewers on Tuesday.
Chavis helped power the Pirates to a close victory, which saw him pick up his 14th home run of the campaign. Chavis is slugging .420 in 336 at-bats this season. The number is right in line with his career slugging percentage of .419. Despite having some pop in his bat, the 27-year-old first baseman is reaching base at a very poor .289 clip.
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Pirates' Michael Chavis: On base twice in win
Rotowire
Chavis went 1-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored in Sunday's win over the Phillies.
Chavis walked in his first at-bat but was stranded at second. He later singled in Bryan Reynolds and came around to score on a fielder's choice as the Pirates chased Noah Syndergaard in the sixth inning. Chavis, who has exactly one hit in seven of his last eight games, is now slashing .245/.277/.416 with 13 home runs on the season.
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Pirates' Michael Chavis: Sits after three straight starts
Rotowire
Chavis is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against Atlanta.
Chavis went 3-for-11 with a solo home run and an additional run while starting each of the past three games at first base, but he'll likely be limited to a short-side platoon role at the position with the lefty-hitting Bligh Madris moving forward. Neither Madris nor Chavis will man first base in Wednesday's series finale, however, as Josh VanMeter will draw a rare start.
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Pirates' Michael Chavis: Not in Tuesday's lineup
Rotowire
Chavis is out of the lineup for Tuesday's game against Boston.
Chavis is 1-for-14 with six strikeouts over his past four contests and will take a seat Tuesday for the second time in Pittsburgh's last three games. Kevin Padlo will start at first base and bat fifth in the series opener versus the Red Sox.
