Red Sox sign ex-Brewer Chacin to Minors deal

ANAHEIM -- The Red Sox made a move to bolster their pitching depth by signing right-hander Jhoulys Chacín to a Minor League deal on Saturday.

Chacin, who was released by the Brewers on Monday, worked out with the Red Sox on Friday at Angel Stadium and threw a bullpen session. The 31-year-old has been on the injured list since July 25 with a right oblique strain. In 19 starts this season, he has a 5.79 ERA (5.69 FIP) and a 1.56 WHIP, with 80 strikeouts vs. 39 walks.

Even with his numbers down compared to last year, the Red Sox liked what they saw from Chacin enough to take the flier on him.

“I just saw part of the bullpen,” manager Alex Cora said. “The slider’s still good. Good fastball command. He’s healthy.”

Big league rosters expand on Sunday, and Cora noted that the Red Sox will be bringing up three pitchers and two position players, though he could not yet provide names. Whether Chacin joins the Red Sox when rosters expand or at a later date, signing him prior to Saturday's 11:59 p.m. ET ensures that he is eligible for postseason rosters, should Boston get there. The Red Sox entered Saturday 5 1/2 games out of the second American League Wild Card slot.

Chacin’s potential role with the Red Sox is also not yet clear. They’ve got enough uncertainty in the rotation that there could be room for Chacin at the back end. However, Chacin hasn’t started in over a month and would likely require some stretching out -- though time is running out for that, as the Minor League regular seasons end on Monday.

Chavis sits again

Second baseman Michael Chavis, on rehab assignment with Triple-A Pawtucket, was not in the lineup on Saturday after being scratched from the second game of a doubleheader on Friday with soreness in his right side.

“Hopefully, it’s not that bad,” said Cora. “It’s kind of like the side, but it’s not the oblique, it’s the side. He just said that between games, he was swinging the bat, and they asked him how he’s feeling, and he said, ‘Oh, just a little tight.’”

Were it not for the setback, Chavis likely would have joined the Red Sox on Sunday for the series finale at Angel Stadium. Now things are a bit more up in the air, although Pawtucket’s season ending Monday eliminates him staying there as a possibility.

“They were gonna check on him today, see how he reacted, how he feels, do the same thing tomorrow,” said Cora. “Most likely we’ll see him on Monday at Fenway, see where he’s at, and we’ll go from there.”