Yankees Will Make a Run at Wei-Yin Chen

The New York Yankees will presumably be in the market for a starting pitcher this winter, not that this necessarily means that they will sign one, and one starting pitcher that is said to interest the team is former Baltimore Orioles ace Wei-Yin Chen. While I say that Chen was the Orioles ace, and he was, that doesn’t necessarily mean that I think he will be an ace on this team or for many teams. Chen is more of a middle-of-the-rotation type starter with #2 starting pitcher qualities and starts. Either way it looks like the Yankees are willing to give up the #22 pick overall (currently) in the 2016 MLB First Year Players Draft to potentially sign him.

Chen has pitched for the Baltimore Orioles for four seasons now and has posted a 46-32 record with a 3.72 ERA. Chen, now 30-years old, posted an 11-8 record with a 3.34 ERA in 31 starts last season. Chen is American League East tested, he’s left-handed which would balance out a right-handed heavy Yankees starting rotation and he’s durable. Chen, if signed, would be the only starting pitcher without a question mark attached to him heading into the 2016 season.

Chen is said to be seeking at least a five-year deal, although six years is not completely out of the question, and according to reports by Mark Feinsand New York feels comfortable giving him that this offseason.

Chen doesn’t pitch especially well inside Yankee Stadium sporting a career 4.50 ERA but he would be a good addition, in my opinion, to any rotation including the Yankees rotation. Chen wouldn’t be my Plan A but I’m not against him being a Plan B or even a Plan C. Then again, I’m not spending Hal’s money either.