Diamondbacks Should Have Brought Up Jhoulys Chacin

Jun 12, 2014; Denver, CO, USA; Colorado Rockies pitcher Jhoulys Chacin (45) delivers a pitch during the second inning against the Atlanta Braves at Coors Field. Mandatory Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports

The pitching staff of the Arizona Diamondbacks has had an interesting week. Jeremy Hellickson fought through dehydration, won a game and then was put on the disabled list. Chase Anderson was pummeled again, sent to Triple A Reno and then brought back when Hellickson was placed on the DL. We saw the return of Zack Godley. Finally, Randall Delgado was placed into the starting rotation. Instead of moving Delgado from the bullpen, where the team needs as many arms as possible, I would rather the D-backs have brought in a new face. Well, he’s not new in terms of experience. I would have liked to see the return of Jhoulys Chacin in a Big League uniform.

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My colleague Joe Jacquez wrote that Aaron Blair should have gotten the open slot. I respectively disagree. Yes, it would be nice to see the top prospect make his debut now but I see no harm in keeping Blair with Reno for the remainder of the season. Let him build his innings count on the farm, throwing every fifth day and then come to Spring Training for a chance in the rotation. It may sound silly but I would rather have Blair pitch on a D-backs’ team that should be ready to contend in 2016 than on one in 2015 that will not reach the playoffs.

I am curious about seeing Chacin pitch in the Majors again after he has put up some impressive numbers in the Pacific Coast League. The right-hander is 5-3 with an ERA of 3.39 in 12 starts. Remember, this was a guy that won 14 games two years ago for the Colorado Rockies. Could he be a part of the future? His contract is up at the end of the year and it wouldn’t seem as though he would be a candidate to return. However, Chacin had the chance to opt out in July if he was not with the Snakes at that point and he obviously chose to remain. He must believe he has a legitimate chance to be in the rotation by the end of the season and perhaps compete for a spot next year.

For me it comes down to this. Arizona needs all of the arms they can get because of the current stretch of no off days until the first week of September. Bring Chacin up, start him and if fails in his “tryout” you cut bait at the end of the year. If he succeeds, maybe you have yourself another decent starting pitcher heading into next year. I think Chacin deserves a chance to be a Major League pitcher again.

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