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MLB Rumors: 10 free agency signings that need to happen

By Steven McNeil

Oct 4, 2015; Baltimore, MD, USA; Baltimore Orioles first baseman Chris Davis (19) doubles during the first inning against the New York Yankees at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 4, 2015; Baltimore, MD, USA; Baltimore Orioles first baseman Chris Davis (19) doubles during the first inning against the New York Yankees at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports /
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Sep 19, 2015; St. Petersburg, FL, USA; Baltimore Orioles starting pitcher Wei-Yin Chen (16) throws a pitch during the seventh inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 19, 2015; St. Petersburg, FL, USA; Baltimore Orioles starting pitcher Wei-Yin Chen (16) throws a pitch during the seventh inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /

9) Wei-Yin Chen SP – Houston Astros

Look, we all know the Astros are finally good again, mainly because they’ve got the young talent like Carlos Correa and George Springer. They shocked everyone by actually making the playoffs last year, but ended up losing to the Kansas City Royals in the ALDS.

What the Astros lacked for most of last year was good starting pitching, so bad that they had to go out and spend from their talent pool to go and get Mike Fiers at the trade deadline.

I am sure that the Astros would probably rather do that than spend money on an aging free agent pitcher like Wei Yin Chen, but that market is said to be pretty lucrative with guys like Carlos Carrasco and Jose Fernandez reportedly having astronomical trade prices. So, maybe a five-year, $100 Million deal isn’t too crazy for the Astros who have already been linked to the services of Yovanni Gallardo.

Chen will bring about some stability to that Astros’ rotation and maybe allow them to use some young arms in the bullpen to help avoid catastrophes like they had against the Royals in the playoffs. Over his career, Chen is a reliable 46-32 with a 3.72 ERA (4.14 FIP) and has flirted with a ground ball rate above 40 percent the past two years according to Fangraphs. Chen has also brought in a reliable 9.5 fWAR in just four seasons with the Orioles.

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