Chen Wei-Yin Joins the Mariners
The Seattle Mariners have reportedly signed MLB free agent 陳偉殷 (Chen Wei-Yin) to a minor league contract with an invite to spring training. Chen will become the 11th Taiwanese players to play with the Mariners’ organisation.
Since parting ways with the Miami Marlins back, Chen Wei-Yin has been seeking other opportunities within the MLB system. He was so determined to remain in the MLB, he even turned down a decent offer to pitch in Japan.
On January 30, Chen Wei-Yin hinted on his Facebook that he signed with a new team for the 2020 season. He wrote, “The long-awaited next stop is coming.” Apart from the message, he also posted a photo of him drinking coffee using a Seattle skyline mug.
Is #MLB free agent 陳偉殷 (Chen Wei-Yin) going to sign with the Seattle Mariners? Chen wrote "the long awaited next stop is coming" and posted this photo on his Facebook. #MLBTW pic.twitter.com/eVef8EpYoN
— CPBL STATS (@GOCPBL) January 30, 2020
USA Media Confirmed the Signing
On January 31, various media outlets in the United States confirmed the Mariners’ signing of the Taiwanese left-hander Chen Wei-Yin. The deal is said to be a minor league contract with spring training invite.
Although it is a minor league contract, Chen Wei-Yin will still receive $22 million USD which owed by the Miami Marlin. As always, we will continue to update this page as the story develop.
That's the Seattle Starbucks City Relief mug Chen is drinking out of, so…perhaps a clue. https://t.co/R1Lm3E7hE2
— Lookout Landing (@LookoutLanding) January 30, 2020
Wei-Yin Chen has deal with Mariners
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) January 30, 2020
Chen still needs to pass a physical and this will be a Minor League deal. 34-yr-old had some good seasons with Orioles from 2012-15, but struggled last 2 years in Miami and pitched out of bullpen last season. https://t.co/3UiBd2kBnI
— Greg Johns (@GregJohnsMLB) January 30, 2020
Other Taiwanese Played for the Mariners
- 武昭關 (Wu Chao-Kuan) 2003-2006
- 黃佳安 (Huang Chia-An) 2005-2006
- 陳鏞基 (Chen Yung-Chi) 2004-2008 (Returned to CPBL, Uni-Lions)
- 郭泓志 (Kuo Hong-Chih) 2012-2012 (Returned to CPBL, Fubon Guardians)
- 張耀文 (Chang Yao-Wen) 2008-2012
- 蔣智賢 (Chiang Chih-Hsien) 2008-2012 (Returned to CPBL, Fubon Guardians)
- 羅國輝 (Lo Kuo-Hui) 2006-2012 (Returned to CPBL, Fubon Guardians)
- 陳敏賜 (Chen Min-Sih) 2010-2014 (Returned to CPBL, Lamigo Monkeys)
- 王建民 (Wang Chien-Ming) 2015-2015
- 張景淯 (Chang Jing-Yu) 2018 – present
- 陳偉殷 (Chen Wei-Yin) 2020 – present
I’m surprised that the Monkeys and Uni-Lions haven’t signed their last two to four foreign pitchers. Is Michael Nix weighing offers from both teams?
MLB Spring Training starts on Feb. 12 and 13. I would guess that any pitchers that don’t have offers by Feb. 5 will find offers from the Monkeys or Uni-Lions a lot more enticing.
Oh, the Uni-Lions just signed Ryan Feierabend today. I think this year’s signing is a bit slow due to the early Lunar New Year holiday. But I think we can see both Monkeys and Uni-Lions top up their gaps in the next 2 weeks.
As for Michael Nix, according to the Monkeys’ GM, he is not coming back for 2020. But maybe Nix will be the 4th backup for the Uni-Lions? Guy is a pure work horse.
There are rumours floating around that Brothers’ Elih Villanueva will joins Rakuten Monkeys.
Villanueva pitched pretty well last year, but I think it’s a mistake not bringing back Nix. Nix made the 2019 Monkeys a better team just by eating up all those innings and keeping the relievers fresh.
Villanueva is an interesting player. If you look at his performance per game, he doesn’t look that good. But drag his stats over the entire season he is actually pretty good. I think he can have a shot at the ERA title last year if he pitched enough innings.
I think someone will end up signing Michael Nix. I just don’t see the reason not to do so.