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MLB Free Agency: Top five remaining free agents

By Dave Stevenson

Nov 7, 2015; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Detailed view of an official baseball during the Arizona Fall League Fall Stars game at Salt River Fields. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 7, 2015; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Detailed view of an official baseball during the Arizona Fall League Fall Stars game at Salt River Fields. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-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 /

5. Wei-Yin Chen

The pitching market has become quite limited. It started off strong, but it started moving very quickly once Jordan Zimmerman signed with the Detroit Tigers, David Price signed with the Boston Red Sox, and Zack Greinke signed with the Arizona Diamondbacks. With Scott Kazmir signing with the Los Angeles Dodgers and Johnny Cueto signing with the San Francisco Giants, there aren’t that many quality starting pitchers left on the MLB free agent market.

Except for Wei-Yin Chen. Chen is not at the same level as Price or Greinke, but he compares quite favorably to Kazmir and some of the best left-handed pitchers in baseball. He might not be an ace or a number two starter. However, he is a very capable middle of the rotation starter who has the potential to be something more.

Chen will give whoever signs him roughly 200 MLB innings a season with a solid but not spectacular ERA. He is just 30 years old as well and he doesn’t turn 31 until July. He should look to sign with a team that has a pitcher-friendly ballpark. He would do well to sign in the NL, where he wouldn’t have to worry about the designated hitter. He seems like a perfect fit for the St. Louis Cardinals or the Washington Nationals.

Next: 4. Alex Gordon

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