Braves sign Jhoulys Chacin because Cole Hamels isn’t ready

The Atlanta Braves have signed Jhoulys Chacín as their No. 5 starter.

A familiar face in Jhoulys Chacín has been signed by the Atlanta Braves.

The Braves announced on Twitter Tuesday the crafty veteran right-hander joins the big league club on a one-year contract for 2020. Chacín briefly spent part of the 2016 rebuilding season in an Atlanta uniform. He is best known for the start of his MLB career with the Colorado Rockies. Chacín had been with the Minnesota Twins organization before being released last Sunday.

As the 60-game season commences in a matter of days, Atlanta needed to do everything in its power to solidify the back end of its rotation. While Mike Soroka and Max Fried are firmly No. 1 and No. 2 in that order for manager Brian Snitker, it gets a bit dicier as you work your way down from No. 3 to No. 5.

Mike Foltynewicz and Sean Newcomb are thought to be No. 3 and No. 4. As for No. 5, it’s been a glaring issue for the Braves all spring, and now summer. They signed veteran left-hander Cole Hamels, but he hasn’t been healthy and could be out for some time. Atlanta brought in former Seattle Mariners ace Felix Hernandez to compete for that spot, but he opted out for the season.

Is Jhoulys Chacin the unquestioned No. 5 starter in the Braves’ rotation?

It would seem to be so, as the only other guy of note vying for the No. 5 spot is Kyle Wright. While the Braves used their top-10 pick on Wright out of Vanderbilt University in the 2017 MLB Amateur Draft, he still may be a tad raw to firmly crack the Braves’ good but not great starting rotation. With Chacín now in the mix, it adds a veteran presence to a rotation in desperate need of it.

All of the four other starters in the Braves’ rotation are still in their 20s. Soroka and Foltynewicz have been MLB All-Stars before. Fried is trending in that direction. Newcomb has had his moments as both a starter and out of the bullpen for the Braves. Chacín is a professional and one who will give the Braves some innings in his abbreviated role with the team.

Perhaps Wright will end up taking the No. 5 spot from him? There’s also a chance either Foltynewicz or Newcomb struggle and Chacín is unfortunately elevated as high as No. 3 in the Braves’ rotation. If that’s the case, then Atlanta is in a whole mess of trouble in its attempt to three-peat as champions of the NL East. Simply put, Foltynewicz cannot have a bad year in 2020.

Chacín’s signing signifies the Braves may have paid a bunch of money for nothing with Hamels.