New York Yankees Rumors: Are the Yankees Interested in Wei-Yin Chen?

The MLB off-season has just begun and the two biggest needs for the New York Yankees appear to be second base and starting pitching depth as they gear up for the 2016 season.

While the Yankees aren’t likely to open the check-books and get into an all out bidding war for top of the line pitchers like David Price, Zack Greinke and Johnny Cueto, they could push for middle-of-the-rotation pitchers such as Mike Leake and Jeff Samardzija.

Another interesting name is Wei-Yin Chen, who according to Jon Heyman of CBS Sports, is currently being discussed internally by Brian Cashman and the New York Yankees.

Chen, a 30-year old southpaw, signed with the Baltimore Orioles as an international free agent in 2011, and he’s quietly been an under-the-radar work horse for the Orioles over the course of his four year MLB career. To date, Chen has pitched to a 46-32 record with a 3.72 ERA and 4.14 FIP.

Chen, like many international pitchers from Japan is a ground ball pitcher who throws a four-seam fastball, two-seam fastball, curveball, slider and change-up, and according to fan graphs, his fastball sits at 91.5 mph.

One of the biggest flaws the starting rotation possessed in 2015 for the New York Yankees was a lack of stamina, which directly yielded to the overuse of their bullpen.

While Chen would certainly be an upgrade in the stamina department, his career 4.06 xFIP and 11.2% HR/FB Ratio doesn’t figure to translate well with the dimensions of Yankee Stadium.

The Orioles are likely to extend a qualifying offer to Chen, meaning the Yankees would have to forfeit a draft pick to Baltimore for compensation of signing him, but given their interest in Jeff Samardzija – another free-agent who will likely receive a qualifying offer, giving up a draft pick doesn’t seem like a deal breaker this year for Brian Cashman.

I’m not sure what type of deal Chen could command, especially with Scott Boras representing him, but he’ll certainly demand much less than the big name pitcher on the market.

What do you think Yankee fans? Should Brian Cashman pursue Wei-Yin Chen this winter?

New York Yankees Rumors: Are the Yankees Interested in Wei-Yin Chen?

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