Chicago Cubs pitcher Jesse Chavez was an incredible force out of the team’s bullpen after being acquired in a trade with the Texas Rangers, but the veteran made a surprising statement in the aftermath of the team’s loss in the National League Wild Card Game.
Speaking to teammates in the locker room after the 2-1 loss to the Colorado Rockies, Chavez told his teammates that if he would rather call it quits than play for a team other than the Cubs:
“If I’m not wearing this shirt next year, I’m done,” he told teammates according to ESPN’s Marly Rivera.
The 35-year-old reliever flourished once he arrived in Chicago, notching four saves and a sparkling 1.15 ERA in 32 appearances with the team. He was a key member of their bullpen after injuries sidelined Brandon Morrow and Pedro Strop at the end of the season, and quickly became a fan-favorite.