KC Royals: Pitchers To Target In Free Agency

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

Wei-Yin Chen is exactly the type of pitcher that the Royals will go after this offseason. He is a solid and reliable left-handed starting pitcher coming off of a season that he had his best ERA in his MLB career for a season. He also won’t likely come with a big contract.

Chen is 30 years of age, but has only spent four years in the major leagues after coming to the US from Taiwan. Thus far in his MLB career, he has only been with the Baltimore Orioles after being singed as an international free agent after the 2011 season.

He isn’t a high-strikeout guy and will normally end up in the top 10 in the AL in home runs allowed, but he’s a quality mid-rotation pitcher, especially for the Royals who may be losing Cueto, Vargas, and Young, who all started for the Royals last year at some point.

If the Royals do indeed acquire Chen, he would likely fit in the 3-4 spots in the starting rotation depending on who general manager Dayton Moore decides to bring back from last year into this year’s rotation. With the Royals current roster, he would likely be slotted third after Yordano Ventura and Edinson Volquez.

Chen would be a good addition to the reigning champ’s starting rotation, but he would have to come at the right price as we all know the Royals are reluctant to ever over-spend, and they have many other things to worry about, such as their own players on the free agent market.

Next: Is There a Leake In Royal's Rotation?