2012 MLB Free Agents: Orioles Sign Wei-Yin Chen
By Editorial Staff
The Baltimore Orioles added their second starting pitcher from the Asian market yesterday, reaching a three-year agreement with Taiwanese left-hander Wei-Yin Chen. Dan Connolly of the Baltimore Sun reports that Chen’s new contract is worth just under $12 million over the three years.
Chen has spent the past four seasons pitching in the Japan Central League for the Chunichi Dragons. During his time with the Dragons, Chen has averaged more than 150 innings pitched and 22 starts per season while maintaining an ERA and WHIP of 2.48 and 1.063. Chen has a career SO/9 of 7.1 to go with his BB/9 of 2.2.
Last season, Chen went 8-10 for the Dragons with an ERA of 2.68 over his 164 2/3 innings of work. The 26-year-old held a WHIP of 1.026 over his 24 starts.
Orioles general manager Dan Duquette has gotten his new club into the international market in a big way this offseason. Beyond Chen, the Orioles signing right-handed starter Tsuyoshi Wada and have expressed interest in Cuban outfield prospects Yoennis Cespedes and Jorge Soler.
For more on the Orioles, be sure to check out Birds Watcher.
You can check out all of the available free agents by position below.