This Chick is a free agent
By john • Nov 20th, 2008 • Category: free agents, minor leagues, travis chick
Travis Chick is one of nearly 600 minor league free agents. The former 14th round pick who most recently pitched in the Seattle Mariners minor league system has made his way around the league in recent years and this winter will look to find another place to call home.
It’s not that Chick can’t pitch. He’s proven he can have stretches of brilliance but in recent years he’s struggled to prove he can do it on a constant basis.
Chick has already been in four different big league systems and at the age of 24 is coming to a crossroad in his career.
He’s good enough to get the job done at the Double-A level on a constant basis but prior to five starts at Triple-A Tacoma last season had not taken the step forward to show he was ready for the next level.
In 2006 Chick appeared in three big league games for the Mariners as a September call up and the results weren’t what either side could have hoped for.
The following season he was sent back to Double-A where he struggled at times, prompting the team to have him pitch again at the Double-A level. It marked the fourth straight year that Chick pitched a portion of the season at Double-A. Used primairly as a reliever he wasn’t much better then before but did impress during a stay in Triple-A.
The thing working against Chick is that his strikeout numbers have dropped off the map since 2004 but considering he did have continued success in 2005 and 2006 it’s not hard to imagine him contributing going forward.
One area that Chick will have to improve in his walks allowed. Chick who once had good control has been walking more and more batters the last couple of seasons.
Chick will probably get quite a few teams taking a look at him this winter. He’ll likely be looking for one that will give him a long look this spring even if it does happen to be in the bullpen.
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