Pressbox/Paul Folkemer — The Orioles lost two free agents — including their top starting pitcher from 2015 — in one fell swoop Jan. 12.
Left-hander Wei-Yin Chen, 30, reportedly agreed to a five-year contract with the Miami Marlins with a vesting option for a sixth year, according to Fox Sports reporter Ken Rosenthal. The deal is reportedly worth $80 million (plus $16 million in 2021 if Chen’s option vests), with an opt-out after two years.
Additionally, outfielder Gerardo Parra, 28, reportedly agreed to a three-year, $26 million contract with the Colorado Rockies, as first reported by baseball writer Wilmer Reina.
Chen’s departure from the Orioles was expected, but it leaves a significant hole in the Birds’ rotation. Chen was the club’s most reliable starter in 2015, going 11-8 while leading the O’s in innings pitched (191.1), WHIP (1.218) and ERA (3.34). He was the Orioles’ only starter with an ERA lower than 4.00.
Chen, a Taiwan native, proved to be a bargain for the Orioles after they signed him out of Japan Jan. 10, 2012. The Birds paid Chen just more than $15 million total during his four seasons, and he more than made good on the investment. Chen went 46-32 with a 3.72 ERA during his O’s career, finishing fourth in the American League Rookie of the Year voting in 2012, and he made 31 or more starts during three of his four seasons. While Chen was never a star, he was a better-than-average pitcher all four years of his O’s career.
The Birds, though, were wary of signing a 30-year-old pitcher to an expensive multi-year contract and did not seriously pursue a reunion with Chen, who is represented by agent Scott Boras. With Miami, Chen likely slots in as the Marlins’ No. 2 starter behind right-hander Jose Fernandez.
Parra, meanwhile, was a short-term Oriole, spending just more than two months with the Birds in 2015. The O’s acquired him July 31 from the Milwaukee Brewers in exchange for right-handed pitching prospect Zach Davies. The Birds hoped Parra — who was batting .328 at the time — would provide a solution to their season-long struggles in right field, but Parra fared no better in Baltimore. During 55 games with the Orioles, Parra batted .237/.268/.357/.625 with five home runs and 20 RBIs. A two-time former Gold Glove winner, Parra struggled defensively with the Orioles, taking poor routes on fly balls.
With Parra joining the Rockies, the Orioles could pursue a trade for one of Colorado’s excess outfielders, such as Carlos Gonzalez, Charlie Blackmon or Corey Dickerson.
