SURPRISE, Ariz. - An inning after Matt Bush hit Jose Bautista in 2016, the fuse that lit the Rougned Odor-Jose Bautista fight, Toronto's Jesse Chavez ended the day's festivities with a retribution plunking of Prince Fielder.
Now the two pitchers, who were thrown into the Rangers-Blue Jays brawl without any connection to the teams' past history, are separated only by one locker in spring training. Come the season, Chavez could be asked to protect a Bush start, or the other way around.
Chavez officially joined the Rangers Friday on a one-year non-guaranteed major league deal with a base of $1 million.