The New York Yankees are going to be frugal once again this
winter, this much we know, and are likely to stay out of the deep end of the
free agency pool. We’ve all watched as David Price, Zack Greinke, Jordan
Zimmerman and Jeff Samardzija have pulled down big money offers without the
Yankees even making an offer or as much as a phone call to their agents while
the team looks to acquire a player with one-to-three years of service time in a
trade. Brian Cashman and Hal Steinbrenner have not completely ruled out a free
agency signing this winter but they have stated that it will be a minor one.
After seeing what the San Francisco Giants gave Samardzija after possibly the
worst season of his career I think Wei-Yin Chen just got a little too expensive
for the Bombers.
The Yankees have been linked to Chen for much of the
offseason after the left-hander hit free agency this winter. Chen has given the
Yankees headaches over the past few seasons as a member of the Baltimore
Orioles and despite lackluster numbers inside the new Yankee Stadium New York
remained interested in his services. Chen was offered a qualifying offer this
winter and declined meaning that the Yankees would have to surrender the 20th
overall pick in the 2016 Draft, remember Arizona and San Francisco lost their
picks due to free agency signings, but at this moment it seems like that pick
is safe.
Chen is a better pitcher than Samardzija has ever been and
definitely was in 2015. Chen pitched to a 3.8 WAR, 4.16 FIP and 1.218 WHIP in 2015
which improved his career numbers to 10.0, 4.14 and 1.252. Looking at Samardzija’s
disaster of a 2015 season he posted a 0.2 WAR, 4.23 FIP and 1.294 WHIP lowering
his career totals to 7.1, 3.84 and 1.278. Looking at these numbers for a pair of
30-year old pitchers if Samardzija is worth five-years and $90 million then
what’s Chen worth? Six years and $120 million? Not my money or not, no thank
you.
The only way the Yankees are going to acquire an upgrade in
the starting rotation is via trade. If the Miami Marlins want to make Jose
Fernandez available then swoop him up, even if it costs the team Aaron Judge.
If the Braves are willing to make a Shelby Miller for Ivan Nova and Robert
Refsnyder package work then you pull the trigger. Just don’t sign Wei-Yin Chen.
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Sorry for the Capatcha... Blame the Russians :)