Wei-Yin Chen

Chen's performance when on the field was better in the second year of his five-year, $80 pact with Miami, but he was limited to just nine appearances (five starts) due to elbow issues. It was revealed in April that Chen was pitching through a partial UCL tear, and had been since the end of the 2016 season. He hit the DL with a tired arm in May, endured a setback in his recovery and worked exclusively out of the bullpen following his return in September. Chen's strikeout and walk rates both went in the wrong direction last season (6.8 K/9, 2.5 BB/9), but he was much better at limiting hard contact (29.9 percent) and thus the long ball (0.82 HR/9). The Marlins would love to unload his contract, but that seems nearly impossible given the amount of money left on his deal and the health concerns. For as long as his arm holds up, Chen should eat innings for the rebuilding Marlins.

Numbers-driven projection systems loved Chen as he was moving from hitter friendly Camden Yards in the AL East to the cavernous Marlins Park in the tamer NL East. Unfortunately, Chen had issues with the long ball before being sidelined a little after the All-Star break with a sprained throwing elbow. In terms of skills, Chen's strikeout and walk rates both improved a tick, just not nearly as much as expected moving to the favorable pitching environment. Chen saw his HR/9 spike to 1.6 despite inducing a career-high number of grounders. The increased homers and some misfortune in terms of left on base percentage ballooned Chen's ERA to a career-worst 4.96, though it should be noted his 4.18 xFIP was right in line with his tenure in Baltimore. The parts are still in place for the southpaw to have a sneaky good season at a minimal cost, especially if you can focus on his home starts. Just don't expect more than 170, maybe 180, innings.

Chen was a model of consistency in his four seasons with the Orioles. He missed fewer than two months due to injury over the course of those four seasons, exceeding 185 innings in three of the four years. The lefty saw a slight uptick in strikeouts last season and maintained excellent control en route to 20 quality starts. Chen's body of work earned him a five-year deal from Miami in the offseason (opt-out after two), and the move to Marlins Park is ideal given his issues with the long ball in Baltimore last season. Throw in the fact that Chen now gets to pitch in the same division as the Braves and Phillies, and he has all the makings of a valuable rotisserie staff-filler.

Another middling arm with a career year helps explain how the O’s were able to run away with the American League East despite a bevy of star injuries that would've sunk just about any team in a normal season. Let’s not overstate Chen’s season, though, he was still only a bit better than league average despite lowering his ERA by half a run. Like teammate Bud Norris, Chen enjoyed a superb win-loss record that is sure to artificially inflate his price at the draft table in 2015. His 4.5% walk rate was 12th best among 87 qualified starters, but he paired it with a strikeout rate that ranked 61st. His hit and home run rates suggest the 4.00ish ERAs from 2012-13 are where his skill set still lies. Chen can be a serviceable arm to fill out an AL-only rotation, but someone who was found on waiver wires in mixed leagues last year will likely be drafted due in large part to the 16-6 record. Don’t be the victim of that error.

Aside for a slight uptick in his WHIP, Chen's 2013 numbers were nearly a carbon copy of his 2012 season. That accounts for an oblique injury that caused him to miss some time in the middle of the season. Chen had more success with his secondary pitches, particularly his slider and changeup, and less success with his fastball in 2013 despite a slight increase in velocity across most of his pitches. The upcoming season will be a contract year for Chen, and he is a lock to make Baltimore's rotation, while his first two big league campaigns suggest that another year in the neighborhood of a 7.0 K/9 and 2.7 BB/9 is likely.

Chen was the only member of Baltimore's rotation to hold down a spot for the whole season and he led the team with 12 wins. Prior to signing with the Orioles, Chen's velocity dropped in 2011. He was able to rebound to an average fastball velocity of 91 mph, which is more in line with his career numbers. Chen's 0.88 GB/FB ratio is cause for concern and supports his 29 home runs allowed. He is a virtual lock for a rotation spot in 2013, but it is believed that Chen's ceiling is not much higher than what his 2012 numbers reflect.

Chen has been one of Japan's better pitchers since 2008 and an out clause in his NPB contract allowed him to move to MLB and sign three-year deal with the Orioles. Chen moved into Chunichi's rotation full time in 2009, and he had his best season with a 1.54 ERA, 0.83 WHIP and 146:40 K:BB ratio. He got it done with electric stuff, working primarily off a fastball with movement that touched 96 mph on his best days, and a mid-80's slider with bite. While Chen has remained highly effective in the two years since, he hasn't repeated his dominant 2009 performance, on either the stats sheet or the radar gun. He's maintained very good, but not quite league leading, ERAs and WHIPs. In 2011 his strikeout rate dropped to 5.15 K/9IP, after hovering around 8.00 K/9IP in previous seasons. Stuff-wise, he's remained a fastball/slider pitcher, but his fastball velocity has cooled off, now sitting at 88-90 mph topping out around 93 mph, and his slider doesn't have quite as much movement. Chen turns 27 in June 2012, so he'll enter MLB with some prime baseball years ahead of him. Even if he can't find a way to stick in the Baltimore rotation, he should have enough stuff to succeed in a bullpen role.

Chen is considered one of Japan's best pitchers and a name to watch in case he decides to come to MLB. Chen regressed a little from his breakout 2009 season, but set a career high with 188 IP, and posted solid rates including a 2.87 ERA and a 1.144 WHIP. But beyond numbers, Chen is a 25-year-old left-hander with an electric arm and is a valuable prospect. Chen is Taiwanese and joined Chunichi after high school, but unlike most foreign players in Japan he doesn't have contractual provisions that allow him to become a free agent if he chooses and is subject to the more restrictive rules governing drafted Japanese players. Chen and his representation are trying to negotiate an opt-out clause into his contract. If they are successful, we'll probably see him in MLB soon. If not, he is still about six years away from free agency.

Chen has emerged as one of the best pitchers in Japan and is a name to watch in case he decides to move to the U.S. The 23-year-old lefty broke out in a big way in 2009, posting a 1.54 ERA in 164 innings. Chen is a rare power lefty, featuring a mid-90s fastball and a hard slider. He is a long way from having the service time he needs for NPB free agency, but his status as a foreign player may allow him to test the MLB market sooner.