Wei-Yin Chen isn’t one of the blue-chip free-agent starters on the market, but the left-handed veteran is drawing early interest.
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Yankees to Make Run at Chen
Thursday, Nov. 12
The New York Yankees are in the market for starting pitching to fortify what was an improved, but nonetheless average, rotation in 2015.
They plan to make a strong run at Chen to fill those needs, according to Mark Feinsand of the New York Daily News.
“A lot of teams are going to be in on him,” a source said, per Feinsand. “But the Yankees are going to be one of them.”
The Yankees could use a southpaw, as CC Sabathia has been their rotation’s lone lefty since Andy Pettite retired following the 2013 season.
Chen compiled a respectable 3.72 ERA with a 46-32 record and 1.252 WHIP over 707 innings in four seasons with the Baltimore Orioles. He was instrumental in the Orioles’ American League East title in 2014.
However, he is upset over a demotion to Triple-A earlier this season, according to Rich Dubroff of CSN Mid-Atlantic:
Feinsand reported that Chen, who is represented by super-agent Scott Boras, is seeking a four- to five-year deal, which is within reason, given his age of 30. However, Aaron Gleeman of NBC Sports noted Max Scherzer and Jon Lester—last season’s blue-chip free-agent starters—were the only pitchers to receive deals for longer than four years in the offseason last year.
The Yankees have been linked to high-profile names including Zack Greinke, according to Jon Heyman of CBS Sports, but Greinke and others such as David Price and Johnny Cueto—who both expect to command at least $150 million—may be out of New York’s price range.
The Bronx Bombers quenched a two-year playoff drought this year but hope to contend for the division title next season and avoid playing in the AL Wild Card Game after falling to the Houston Astros in the one-game shootout at home.
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