Pirates A to Z: After arriving by trade, Michael Chavis wants to prove he has staying power

During the offseason, the Tribune-Review will offer Pirates A to Z: An alphabetical player-by-player look at the 40-man roster, from outfielder Anthony Alford to pitcher Miguel Yajure.

Player: Michael Chavis

Positions: Second base, third base, outfield

Throws: Right

Bats: Right

Age: 26

Height: 5-foot-10

Weight: 210 pounds

2021 MLB statistics: Batted .248/.258/.397 with seven doubles, one triple, three home runs and 11 RBIs in 43 games.

Contract: First year of arbitration eligibility.

Acquired: From Boston in a trade for left-hander Austin Davis on July 30.

This past season: The team that drafted Chavis gave up on him.

The man who drafted him didn’t.

When the Red Sox sent Chavis to the Pirates at the trade deadline, he was reunited with general manager Ben Cherington, who drafted Chavis for Boston with the 26th pick of the first round in 2014. Cherington saw it as a fresh start for a player with “really good power.”

“He’s been a good hitter since he was in high school,” Cherington said. “Obviously, getting to know him back then, there’s some defensive versatility there, the ability to play on the right side of the infield, the outfield and has had some success in the major leagues, obviously has hit for some power at the major league level.”

Chavis might have become too enamored with hitting home runs after a strong rookie season in 2019, when he hit 18 homers and had 58 RBIs in 95 games in 2019. He followed that by batting .212 with five homers and 19 RBIs in the shortened season, then shuttled between Triple-A and the majors last year, hitting .190 in 31 games before the trade.

“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, and I think the biggest thing with that is, over when I was with Boston, playing time and consistency was a little bit of a complication. So coming over here and having the opportunity to play baseball and consistently play, it’s an absolute blessing and I’m thrilled.”

Chavis had three multi-hit games with the Pirates, going 4 for 5 with a double and two runs scored in an 11-7 win over St. Louis on Aug. 26. Two days later, he strained his right elbow while trying to make a diving catch in right field and was placed on the injured list.

Michael Chavis is back. pic.twitter.com/ftqVqqJv6E

— Pittsburgh Pirates (@Pirates) September 29, 2021

That stint on the IL cost Chavis valuable playing time, given the opening at second base after Adam Frazier was traded to San Diego. But he batted .357 with three doubles, one home run and five RBIs in a dozen games for the Pirates and had multiple hits in back-to-back games against the Cincinnati Reds in October while playing third base.

“I had a couple opportunities to show off that I can play a little bit of third base,” Chavis said, “and I’m looking forward to that versatility being used in the future.”

The future: Chavis showed the versatility to play almost anywhere in the infield or outfield, which makes him a candidate for a utility role.

The Pirates have an opening at second base, and Chavis could compete with the likes of Rodolfo Castro, Tucupita Marcano, Hoy Park and Cole Tucker for a starting job in spring training — if they bring him back.

The Rule 5 Draft could cause a roster crunch, and Chavis is older and likely more costly in his first year of eligibility for arbitration. It doesn’t hurt that he has history with Cherington, but Chavis was trying not to look too far ahead when the season was ending.

“Honestly, I haven’t,” Chavis said. “I’m more of a be-in-the-moment type of person, and I found just, from my past, when I try to look towards the future and look too far ahead, I don’t do so well in the moment.”