Chafin on the move again; traded to Angels

For the fifth time in six years, Andrew Chafin is on the move at Major League Baseball's trade deadline. After asking for his release from the Detroit organization in late April, Chafin, a 2008 Western Reserve graduate, signed with the Washington Nationals on May 1. The left-handed reliever was impressive for the Nationals. He was 1-1 with a 2.70 ERA in 26 appearances, earning his first two decisions within the last week. Chafin struck out 18 batters in his 20 innings for Washington (44-63), which was in last place and headed nowhere in the loaded National League East Division. Already on a one-year contract, it was then no surprise to see Chafin traded to the Los Angeles Angels on Wednesday. The Angels acquired Chafin and reliever Luis Garcia from Washington for left-hander Jake Eder and minor league first baseman Sam Brown. The Angels (53-55) entered Wednesday four games off the pace for the third and final American League Wild Card position. After being drafted out of Kent State University by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the first round of the MLB Draft in 2011, Chafin spent parts of his first seven seasons in Phoenix. Arizona traded him at the deadline in 2020 to the Chicago Cubs, and Chafin re-signed with the Cubs that winter. The Cubs then dealt him to the Oakland Athletics at the July 2021 trade deadline, and Chafin later signed with nearby Detroit during spring training in 2022. Chafin ended up spending the entire 2022 season with the Tigers, posting a 2.83 ERA across 64 appearances in his age 32 season. In February 2023, Chafin then returned to the Diamondbacks, only to be traded to the Milwaukee Brewers at the deadline on Aug. 1, 2023. He signed back with the Tigers in the winter, but then Detroit traded him to the Texas Rangers at the deadline last season on July 30, 2024. Unsigned as teams opened training camp this February, Chafin returned to the Tigers on a minor league contract with an invite to spring training on Feb. 24. He opened the season at Triple-A Toledo, but asked for and was granted his release on April 30. He was 2-0 with a 2.13 ERA in 13 games for the Mudhens. The next day, Chafin signed with the Nationals on May 1. His first two appearances were against his home state Cincinnati Reds and Cleveland Guardians on May 3 and May 6, respectively. The Angels already made their annual trip to Cleveland, where Chafin got to make his MLB debut in 2014 — just 45 minutes from his hometown in Wakeman. The Angels do, however, play at Comerica Park in Detroit next weekend, Aug. 8-10. Chafin has appeared in four postseason games with Arizona (2017) and Chicago (2020). He recorded a key out in an 11-8 Wild Card Game postseason win over Colorado in 2017. Chafin also made two appearances in a three-game sweep in losses against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the division series in 2017. He then appeared in one postseason game with the Cubs in a Wild Card round loss to Miami in 2020. Before his first appearance with the Angels, Chafin was 22-28 with a 3.39 ERA for his career across parts of 12 seasons. He still owns more strikeouts (573) than innings pitched (528) for his career. Prior to his professional career, Chafin was a four-year letterwinner and the Firelands Conference Player of the Year in 2008 for Western Reserve. Chafin was also Division III District Player of the Year and All-Ohio first team. In his final high school game of his career, he threw a no-hitter at Mapleton. Chafin holds the school record for most strikeouts in a game (19), most strikeouts in a season (178), and lowest ERA and is tied for most pitching wins (10). Shortly after graduation, Chafin was the No. 1 starter and anchor for the Sandusky American Legion Post 83 summer baseball team, which won its first-ever state title in 2008 — largely behind the lefty's arm. At Kent, Chafin was the Mid-American Conference Freshman of the Year in 2009 with a 4-1 record, eight saves, a 1.26 ERA, and 55 strikeouts. He missed 2010 because of reconstructive Tommy John elbow surgery, then was the MAC Pitcher of the Year after he posted an 8-1 record in 2011 with 105 strikeouts in 89 innings of work and a 2.02 ERA.