DETROIT Andrew Chafin, a veteran left-handed reliever, signed a big-league contract with the Washington Nationals on Thursday after opting out of his minor-league contract with the Detroit Tigers
Chafin pitched for the Tigers in 2022 and 2024 and will turn 35 in June. After failing to sign a major-league contract during the winter, he returned to the team during spring training on a minor-league contract.
In exchange for minor-league pitchers Joseph Montalvo and Chase Lee, the Tigers dealt Chafin to the Texas Rangers around the trade deadline last year.
Lee now resides in a recreational RV a few spots down from Chafin in a park between Toledo and Detroit. Lee made his big-league debut last week.
The defending champion Rangers were preparing for another postseason run at the time of the transaction, while the Tigers had all but given up on the 2024 campaign. In the end, the Rangers struggled while the Tigers made an unlikely run to the playoffs.
Before being traded, Chafin had a 3.16 ERA, 50 strikeouts, and 16 walks in 37 innings, making him one of Detroit’s most productive relievers in 2024. However, in Texas, he struggled, giving up 15 walks in just 19⅓ innings. He returned to free agency after the Rangers rejected his $6.5 million club option at the end of the season.
In his first season with the Tigers in 2022, Chafin pitched 57⅓ innings with a 2.83 ERA, walking 19 and striking out 67. After the season, he chose to leave his contract, turning down a $6.5 million player option in favor of a more lucrative one. He eventually agreed to a one-year, $6.25 million deal with the Arizona Diamondbacks, indicating that his risk did not fully pay off.
In 2023, Chafin pitched well for the D’backs before being unexpectedly traded to the Brewers at the deadline. After the Brewers rejected his option, he eventually returned for a second stint with the Tigers after struggling with his new team, just like in 2024.
Chafin had less than ideal circumstances during his third stint with Detroit. Chafin refused to speak to reporters on the record until he was back in the major leagues because he felt ignored by the lack of an MLB offer.
Despite pitching well for the Mud Hens, Chafin was unable to make the team after spring training. In 12 2/3 innings, he recorded 17 strikeouts, four walks, and a 2.13 ERA.
The Nationals were impressed by that performance and cut struggling veteran lefty Colin Poche to make place for Chafin.
Chafin’s contract with Detroit includes several opt-out dates due to his veteran status. May 1 was one of those. By adding him to the roster, the Tigers could have kept him, but they decided against it.
The Tigers had little place for another lefty reliever because they already had established left-handers Tyler Holton and Brant Hurter in the bullpen, and Sean Guenther, a recent call-up, was attempting to build on his impressive 2024 finish.
