Who would you rank above Chen on the list of free agent starters?

[Frobby]

OK, I've pared down the list to eliminate the four who clearly outrank Chen and those who nobody has mentioned as being above or as good as Chen. That leaves 12 players and I've given a little info here:

Brett Anderson: age 27, career 112 ERA+, 2015 112 ERA+, 147 innings in 2015 but has only made 20+ starts twice in 7 years. Lefty.

Mark Buehrle: age 36, career 117 ERA+, 2015 109 ERA+, 165 innings in 2015 and had thrown 200+ innings 15 years in a row, soon to be 15. Lefty.

Marco Estrada: age 31, career ERA+ 98, 2015 121 ERA+, 129 innings and has never thrown more than 150.2.

Doug Fister: age 31, career ERA+ 116, 2015 ERA+ 83, 92 innings in 2015 but has exceeded 200 a couple of times previously.

Yovani Gallardo: age 29, career ERA+ 111, 2015 ERA+ 128, 149 innings in 2015 and has been over 180 IP 5 years in a row, topping 200 twice.

Jaime Garcia: age 28, career ERA+ 116, 2015 ERA+ 218, 86.2 innings in 2015 and this will be his fourth year in a row of making 20 or fewer starts. Lefty.

Hisashi Iwakuma: age 34, career ERA+ of 114, 2015 ERA+ of 97, 84 innings in 2015 after two healthy years.

Scott Kazmir: age 31, career ERA+ 107, 2015 ERA+ 166, 147 innings in 2015 and has been relatively healthy the last 3 years after missing 2011-12 with injuries. Lefty.

John Lackey: age 36, career ERA+ 109, 2015 ERA+ 132, 172 innings in 2015 and has been durable in his long career except 2012 which he missed with TJ surgery.

Mat Latos: age 27, career ERA+ 109, 2015 ERA+ 80, 103 innings in 2015 after throwing 200+ innings in 2012-13.

Mike Leake: age 27, career ERA+ 101, 2015 ERA+ 114, 149 innings in 2015 and has been relatively durable.

Jeff Samardzija: age 30, career ERA+ 97, 2015 ERA+ 80, 176 innings in 2015 and threw 200+ in 2013-14.

Wei-Yin Chen: age 29, career ERA+ 110, 2015 ERA+ 128, 156 innings in 2015 and has been relatively durable except for an oblique injury in 2013 that cost him 9 starts. Lefty.

I think due to age and risk factors, only Gallardo gets as long a deal as Chen. I still think he's looking at 5/$80 mm or so.

Off the board: Buehrle (retired), Estrada (2/$26 mm), Iwakuma (3/$45 mm), Lackey (2/$32 mm), Samardzija (5/$90 mm). I'm not sure why Garcia got put on the list, as he isn't a gree agent. That leaves Anderson, Fister, Gallardo, Kazmir, Latos, and Leake.

[ChicagoTerp]

Off the board: Buehrle (retired), Estrada (2/$26 mm), Iwakuma (3/$45 mm), Lackey (2/$32 mm), Samardzija (5/$90 mm). I'm not sure why Garcia got put on the list, as he isn't a gree agent. That leaves Anderson, Fister, Gallardo, Kazmir, Latos, and Leake.

Didn't Anderson accept the QO from the Dodgers?

[El Gordo]

Anderson accepted the QO from LAD. If we don't sign Gallardo I bet they take flyer on Fister

[backwardsk]

Off the board: Buehrle (retired), Estrada (2/$26 mm), Iwakuma (3/$45 mm), Lackey (2/$32 mm), Samardzija (5/$90 mm). I'm not sure why Garcia got put on the list, as he isn't a gree agent. That leaves Anderson, Fister, Gallardo, Kazmir, Latos, and Leake.

Garcia had a team option that got picked up.

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[twinedenter]

Not that this answers the question but...I would prefer Tyson Ross.

-I do realize we would need to trade a few prospects and maybe we don't even have enough to get him.

-I also know he can be a bit wild, but must be down in the zone because he only gave up 9 homers in 200 innings.

-Heavy sinker reaching 95.

-200 ininng starter

-True #2 with #1 potential possible

-Meets that short term contract criteria Duquette loves so much

[Aristotelian]

Not that this answers the question but...I would prefer Tyson Ross.

-I do realize we would need to trade a few prospects and maybe we don't even have enough to get him.

-I also know he can be a bit wild, but must be down in the zone because he only gave up 9 homers in 200 innings.

-Heavy sinker reaching 95.

-200 ininng starter

-True #2 with #1 potential possible

-Meets that short term contract criteria Duquette loves so much

Two years of Tyson Ross are probably going to cost Gausman. Do you want to plug one hole by opening another?

[Tx Oriole]

If The Orioles sign Buehrle, Thorne will be one happy broadcaster. He dreams of 2 hour games.

I would like the O's to resign Chen, but at what cost?

[Frobby]

Off the board: Buehrle (retired), Estrada (2/$26 mm), Iwakuma (3/$45 mm), Lackey (2/$32 mm), Samardzija (5/$90 mm). I'm not sure why Garcia got put on the list, as he isn't a gree agent. That leaves Anderson, Fister, Gallardo, Kazmir, Latos, and Leake.

Cross Leake off the list. Also, I missed the fact that Anderson accepted a QO, as several people pointed out. So, that leaves Fister, Gallardo, Kazmir and Latos. Only Gallardo costs a pick.

[Tx Oriole]

I think it can be argued that Chen is one of the ten best starters available this offseason. Not top 5 though.

I wish Chen would resign with the O's.

[srock]

At this point Chen is #1.

I'll take Latos or Gallardo.

Kazmir is the most likely sign due to cost and pick.

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[Redskins Rick]

At this point Chen is #1.

I'll take Latos or Gallardo.

Kazmir is the most likely sign due to cost and pick.

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I thought back towards the end of 2015, MLBTR had Chen as the #1 Lefty SP available on the FA market?

[Redskins Rick]

I wish Chen would resign with the O's.

Not sure that had any chance of happening.

Chen is pushing for $100 (Of course, probably Boras doing all the heavy pushing.)

[backwardsk]

I thought back towards the end of 2015, MLBTR had Chen as the #1 Lefty SP available on the FA market?

Maybe LHP with a pick attached (?)

There was this guy, David Price, he may have been rated higher.

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[Redskins Rick]

Maybe LHP with a pick attached (?)

There was this guy, David Price, he may have been rated higher.

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I dont remember their rationale at the time, maybe he was the best affordable FA LH SP?