Jhoulys Chacin is expected to be ready to pitch by the start of spring training, the Denver Post reports. According to fellow pitcher Jorge De La Rosa, Chacin "was playing catch with me every day (in Scottsdale, Ariz.), and his arm looks really good. His

Chacin is expected to be ready to pitch by the start of spring training, the Denver Post reports. According to fellow pitcher Jorge De La Rosa, Chacin "was playing catch with me every day (in Scottsdale, Ariz.), and his arm looks really good. His ball really had some life, and he's lost some weight. I think he's getting stronger."

Analysis:

Chacin nearly required shoulder surgery after being shut down in late June, but ended up just rehabbing. It appears his arm is returning to form, which could indicate a return closer to the numbers he posted in 2013, when he went 14-10 with a 3.47 ERA and 1.26 WHIP with 126 strikeouts over 197.1 innings.