While some trade deadline deals take weeks to finalize, other times the can be proposed and completed just ahead of the buzzer.
The deal that brought Michael Chavis from the Red Sox to the Pirates on July 30 was definitely the latter, with Ben Cherington admitting that the deal that sent lefty reliever Austin Davis to Boston for the utilityman came together quickly on deadline day.
It was the second time Cherington had acquired Chavis, the first coming in 2014 when the Red Sox selected him in the first round of the amateur draft. Cherington was the Red Sox general manager at the time.
At the time of the trade, Chavis was in Class AAA Worcester, trying to rebound after a tough stint in the majors. So at first, he was nervous when he saw his phone ring with a Boston number.
“I’m like, ‘OK, must have to do with being let go by the Red Sox,’ ” Chavis said. “He says, ‘Hey, it’s Ben Cherington with the Pirates.’ And I’m like, ‘My guy! How we doing? I recognize you.’ So I mean it was definitely comforting, and it was nice, because he drafted me. He welcomed me with open arms. We had a nice conversation. I can’t wait to get going.”
After a stint with Class AAA Indianapolis, Chavis was called up to the majors Monday. On Tuesday, he got a hold of a hanging Madison Bumgarner cutter and drove it for his first home run with his new club, putting the Pirates en route to a 4-2 win over the Arizona Diamondbacks at PNC Park:
That was part of a 2-for-4 day for the 26-year-old newcomer, who is hoping a change of scenery, and a chance to play, is just what he needs to live up to his potential.
“I was hungry for an opportunity to play,” Chavis said. “The situation over there in Boston, I just didn't get a whole lot of opportunities this year, just given the scenario that we had. It's nothing against them, and it's nothing against myself. It's just kind of the way things unfolded. So just given the opportunity to play baseball, I came over here, in Indianapolis, I've played every day since I got here, and I couldn't ask for more.”
Ranked by Baseball America as the Red Sox No. 2 prospect in both 2018 and 2019, Chavis’ debut in 2019 went fairly well, but he struggled in the abbreviated 2020 season and then didn’t get consistent playing time in 2021. His results dipped as a result.
With everyday reps in the minors, his focus was to get his raw power to play without pressing.
“I know that I have power, and through the minors and up until this point, one thing I was working on was just letting it happen naturally and stop trying to produce the power, stop trying to force home runs and just let them happen,” Chavis said. “I think I’ve made some progress this year.”
That 429-foot blast is evidence of that progress.
The Pirates have plenty of opportunities for him to play in the majors, especially at second base after Adam Frazier was traded and prospect Rodolfo Castro was optioned back to Class AA Altoona Monday. While he started at second base Tuesday, he slid over to first base in the sixth inning because of a double-switch. He can also play the corner outfield spots and third base.
And on Tuesday, he got to bat leadoff, another spot in the lineup that is very much for grabs. Before the game, Derek Shelton said he was impressed with what he had seen out of him so far. A homer certainly helps make that first impression a little better.
“You come over to a new club or you get called up and you’re trying to immerse yourself into the culture in numerous ways,” Shelton said afterwards about the homer. “To have success right off the bat is extremely important. I think it makes guys breathe a little bit easier.”
Chavis was breathing easier before that homer, though, saying that his new spot feels right.
“I can't really say enough about how nice it is just to feel wanted. I think all of us can attest to the fact that just being wanted is a nice thing,” Chavis said. “So coming in and immediately guys reaching out to me and saying, 'Hey, I'm happy that you're here,' because I'm thrilled to be here as well.”
MORE FROM THE GAME
• Chavis wasn't the only recently promoted Indianapolis Indian who went deep Tuesday. Anthony Alford pulled a high Bumgarner fastball to left, launching it a 46 degree launch angle, the highest for any Pirate home run this season:
“That’s pure strength... It’s just a fly ball that he’s so strong it just kept going," Shelton said.
Alford hit a couple moonshots with Indianapolis, but didn't know what the numbers were. It doesn't sound like one was quite like that, though.
"That one, I honestly didn't think it was going to get out," Alford said. "I guess I just hit it to the right part of the field."
Alford was activated off the injured list Monday after back spasms set him back shortly after his contract was selected from Indianapolis earlier this month. He admitted it was frustrating to get shelved so quickly after his return, but isn't deviating from the plan he set for himself in his second chance with the Pirates.
"Really just taking it day by day, just trying to find peace, whenever I’m playing," Alford said. "Like I said when I first got here, just stand in the moment. Just really just focusing on the big picture, trust in the process. This is a game of failure and there are going to be some ups and downs for a lot of people. I just gotta find a way to persevere."
Alford went 1-for-2 with an intentional walk Tuesday.
• For the first time since May 29, JT Brubaker is in the win column after tossing five shutout innings.
“I think it just helps you go home and sleep at night a little bit better," Shelton said about his starter.
Brubaker ran into jams in the second and third innings, needing to work around the Diamondbacks' lineup to get to Bumgarner to strand the bases loaded in the second and stranding two more in scoring position in the third. But there's a big difference between flirting with trouble and giving up those big hits like he had been during his slump.
The difference this time was instead of focusing on those big at-bats, he broke down those important moments to focus on just individual pitches, rather than the whole at-bat.
"Really, it was just making sure I took it one pitch at a time," Brubaker said. "Just kind of switching up the mentality on the mound helped me. Instead of just focusing on getting the batter here and actually just minimizing it where I'm focusing on one pitch at a time simplifies it even more."
His go-to pitch was the slider, getting 10 whiffs and four of his six strikeouts with it. While he has had a home run problem of late, he feels that pitch has been one he could rely on. On Tuesday, he threw it more than any other pitch, for 35 of his 86 pitches.
"Even though the last LA game [against the Dodgers] wasn't the best, I feel like my slider has been the best it's been in quite a few starts," Brubaker said. "Just making sure that I can continue to keep that feeling on it and being able to rip it down in the zone I think is going to help me a lot."
• Another day, another Ke'Bryan Hayes highlight reel play.
Shifting closer to the shortstop position against Josh VanMeter, Hayes was still able to make a ranging pick up and throw close to the first base bag, hitting Chavis with an accurate, strong throw.
"I don’t know if there’s many human beings on the planet that make that," Shelton said. "If you’re a baseball nerd, the way he turned his glove and turned his shoulders to get set, there’s very few guys on the plant that can do that. That was really, really special.”
"I mean the dude literally put it on the money," Chavis said. "Usually, on those kinds of plays as the first baseman, I’m thinking, ‘Alright, it’s going to be a bad throw. Just be ready for anything, whether it’s low, high, left, right.’ I’m just expecting a bad throw. And the whole time he’s fielding it and throwing it, I’m like, “Looks pretty good. … Looks pretty good.’ Just don’t drop it. It’s on the money, don’t drop it. So I mean he did everything. I’m a little bit flexible, but that’s all Ke’Bryan. That was unbelievable."
• In minor league news, first overall draft pick Henry Davis was placed on Class High-A Greensboro's seven-day injured list with an oblique strain. We'll have more information Wednesday after meeting with director of sports medicine Todd Tomczyk.
• Before the game, Gregory Polanco cleared waivers, meaning he is remaining with the team. More on that here. He was used as a pinch-hitter in the eighth inning Tuesday, singling to right field.
THE ESSENTIALS
• Boxscore
• Live file
• Scoreboard
• Standings
• Statistics
THE HIGHLIGHTS
THE LINEUPS
Shelton's card:
1. Michael Chavis, 2B
2. Ke'Bryan Hayes, 3B
3. Bryan Reynolds, CF
4. Colin Moran, 1B
5. Jacob Stallings, C
6. Ben Gamel, RF
7. Kevin Newman, SS
8. Anthony Alford, LF
9. JT Brubaker, RHP
And for Torey Lovullo's Diamondbacks:
1. Josh Rojas, 2B
2. Pavin Smith, 1B
3. Asdrúbal Cabrera, 3B
4. Carson Kelly, C
5. David Peralta, LF
6. Josh VanMeter, 2B
7. Daulton Varsho, CF
8. Nick Ahmed, SS
9. Madison Bumgarner, LHP
THE SYSTEM
• Indianapolis
• Altoona
• Greensboro
• Bradenton
THE SCHEDULE
The Pirates will try, yet again, to pick up that elusive first sweep Wednesday night. The Pirates have yet to announce a starter, and they will take on Tyler Gilbert (1-1, 2.04) in the season finale between these two clubs. First pitch will be at 7:05 p.m. I've got you covered from the ballpark.
THE CONTENT
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