The veteran right-hander, 41, declared that his more than decade-and-a-half in Major League Baseball has come to an end. The announcement came in late July 2025, following the conclusion of his 18th season, during an appearance on the Foul Territory podcast.
His final outing took place on July 13, 2025, pitching for the Atlanta Braves in a game versus the St. Louis Cardinals. Over his career, Chávez appeared in 657 games with nine different clubs.
Chávez’s career record includes 51 wins, 66 losses, a 4.27 earned run average, nine saves, and 1,044 strikeouts over 1,142 innings pitched. He also holds a peculiar MLB distinction—he was traded 11 times, which is believed to be the most trades ever for a player in league history.
This season wasn’t his strongest: he made just four appearances for the Braves, giving up eight earned runs over eight innings, resulting in a 9.00 ERA. Prior to joining the Braves for this season, he had signed a minor league deal ear
Chávez reflected on his unexpected longevity—being a 42nd‑round draft pick in 2002 by the Texas Rangers—and how he always felt motivated by the need to adapt, to stay in the game, and to continually re‑earn his spot. He expressed gratitude for the journey and mentioned he’d like to help younger players avoid the setbacks he faced, so their paths forward could be smoother.
He acknowledged that it was time to “turn the page” and move into a new chapter of life now that he has made his decision.
