(Update) Orioles reach agreement w/ Taiwanese LHP Wei-Yin Chen

[Fan4Life]

That's illogical. Chen was the more sought after pitcher compared to Wada and Wada got 2/8.15M with an option. I see that first you posted 2/12 would be a fair contract. Now you are down to 4M a year or less. Let's remember this. Chen is 26, has good stuff, and success in Japan. People think nothing of giving Cespedes 4/32 or whatever so why so cheap on Chen?

Because we don't allocate resources correctly.

[OrangeJerseys]

Just got the text from the Sun. Wonder when the presses is.

[Fan4Life]

I know Roch reads this site, so let me say I enjoy his blog and he seems like a good guy. However, he has very little insight into the team itself. Wada will get every chance to start. His stuff is that of a starter and he's been a starter exclusively in Japan, unlike Koji who had relieved for years before he came over here. He's also younger than Koji was when he came over here. Wada will get every chance to make the rotation.

Agreed 100%.

[Sports Guy]

That's illogical. Chen was the more sought after pitcher compared to Wada and Wada got 2/8.15M with an option. I see that first you posted 2/12 would be a fair contract. Now you are down to 4M a year or less. Let's remember this. Chen is 26, has good stuff, and success in Japan. People think nothing of giving Cespedes 4/32 or whatever so why so cheap on Chen?

Not really because I don't really want him.

And yes, I said 2/12....But I wouldn't pay 3/18-21...Thus why I said if it was 3 years, I would want it for less money.

2/12 is the absolute most I would want to give. I just think its a mistake to go 3 years on this guy.

[RZNJ]

Wada has very fringe-y stuff for a MLB rotation. My guess is he'll compete for a rotation spot in ST, but end up in the 'pen.

If he has fringy stuff for a ML rotation then he also has fringy stuff for a ML bullpen. This guy doesn't have the arm of Chen but he reportedly is a "pitcher" with a plus changeup. I doubt the O's are paying him 4M to be a long man in the pen or a situational lefty.

[RZNJ]

Not really because I don't really want him.

And yes, I said 2/12....But I wouldn't pay 3/18-21...Thus why I said if it was 3 years, I would want it for less money.

2/12 is the absolute most I would want to give. I just think its a mistake to go 3 years on this guy.

And if the contract is 2/12 and the last year (6-8M) vests based on IP over the 2 years, then it's still a good contract. In fact, that would probably be an even better contract.

[mweb]

Obviously I want to see the contract, but I'm excited about this. Law wrote some good things about him in his free agent rankings where he placed him 19th, one spot after Papelbon and one spot before Willingham. Also ahead of Oswalt, Bedard, and Maholm.

Here's what he said:

Chen was born in Taiwan but has pitched in Japan's NPB for several years. He's had good results, but a decline in his stuff this year probably will limit his market.

He had been sitting low 90s and touching 95 in past years but was more 88-92 early in 2011, and his slider didn't have its usual bite. By the end of the year, he was back up to 92-94 and the slider was sharper, so MLB teams' interest might depend on when in the year they saw him. He has a decent split-change that should make him more than just a lefty specialist, although it's not an out pitch for him. Chen still has plus control, with 31 walks in 164 2/3 innings this year for Chunichi, but after striking out more than 21 percent of the hitters he faced in his first three full seasons in NPB, his strikeout rate dropped to 14 percent this year. He is only 25 and offers more upside than the typical NPB refugee, both due to age and the chance for the slider to become a consistently plus pitch.

[Lucky Jim]

If he has fringy stuff for a ML rotation then he also has fringy stuff for a ML bullpen. This guy doesn't have the arm of Chen but he reportedly is a "pitcher" with a plus changeup. I doubt the O's are paying him 4M to be a long man in the pen or a situational lefty.

I think they see him much like they saw Kojii. Rotational upside, bullpen likelihood. They saw how similar stuff could play out of the pen over the last two years. Just my hunch. Like Roch, I guess, I don't have much insight into the team.

Not sure I agree about equating the rotation and the 'pen.

[Sports Guy]

And if the contract is 2/12 and the last year (6-8M) vests based on IP over the 2 years, then it's still a good contract. In fact, that would probably be an even better contract.

If the 3rd year isn't guaranteed, I agree with this.

I have no issue with a vesting option for the 3rd year...just don't want to guarantee it.

[El Gordo]

I think the whole offseason has been about generating depth to start dealing from. I expect to see a few of these SP candidates moved before ST.

It's about getting a rotation that can give us 1000 IP. Last Sept. we did pretty well because we had a 12 man bullpen. If we can get more IN from our SP's we could do as well this season with a 7 man pen. Or maybe in the interests of parity, MLB should let the crap teams like the O's, get a mulligan with a 30 man ML roster.

[jjb]

The Dutch one.

We still need depth at the corner positions.

I agree. Vandenhurk makes the most sense. I'll probably get reamed for saying this, but there sure doesn't seem to be as much fluff on the 40-man anymore.

[OsLuvrInKy]

I know Roch reads this site, so let me say I enjoy his blog and he seems like a good guy. However, he has very little insight into the team itself. Wada will get every chance to start. His stuff is that of a starter and he's been a starter exclusively in Japan, unlike Koji who had relieved for years before he came over here. He's also younger than Koji was when he came over here. Wada will get every chance to make the rotation.

I agree with this but I think you actually see Wada and Chen in our rotation opening day. If for no other reason than to build up our international reputation.

[Brendan25]

Not really because I don't really want him.

And yes, I said 2/12....But I wouldn't pay 3/18-21...Thus why I said if it was 3 years, I would want it for less money.

2/12 is the absolute most I would want to give. I just think its a mistake to go 3 years on this guy.

Do you agree that signing guys like Chen and Wada could make the Brittons and Arrietas and Matuszs work a little harder in their offseason and push a little bit more knowing that their spot in the rotation won't be quite as easy to grab as it has been in the past?

[Slappy]

Good, I guess? Don't know much about the guy (don't think anyone else does either!). His stats in the NPBL and Olympics look pretty good. At least on the surface, he seems to be a better option than Tillman or Bergesen.

The best part about these international guys is that they are relatively cheap. It seems like DD thinks he's found a new undervalued asset to milk. He's taking a novel approach this offseason, have to give him that.

[crissfan172]

Well, that is just Roch's opinion. But, I guess his opinion is a bit more informed if someone he spoke to put it in his head. Until I hear more reports on it I gotta think Wada is still a favorite for the rotation the same way Koji was when he got here. We'll see.

The difference is that Koji was in a rotation that consisted of Guthrie, Koji, Simon, Hendrickson, and Eaton. I think Wada will have to earn his way into the rotation.