The Baltimore Orioles have exercised a US$4.75 million option on Taiwanese pitcher Wei-Yin Chen for 2015. Sports commentators said that the Orioles’ decision to bring back Chen on Thursday was an easy call because US$4.75 million was a bargain price given his performance.
The 29-year-old left-hander achieved 16 wins this past season. He owns a 3.86 ERA in 86 starts across his three seasons with the Orioles since 2012. If Chen can maintain his good performance next season, his value on the free agent market is expected to climb even higher.
Chien-ming Wang became the highest-paid MLB player from Taiwan in 2009 when he agreed to a US$5 million, one-year contract with the New York Yankees.