Prospect Insider - Chen Claimed

Chen Claimed

By Jason A. Churchill

By 11-12-2008

The Oakland Athletics claimed infielder Yung Chi Chen off waivers Wednesday, clearing a spot on the 40-man roster.

Chen, 25, signed with the Mariners out of Taiwan in January of 2004 and was once a decent prospect before a shoulder injuries limited the second baseman to 74 games played over the past two seasons.

Even when Chen was presumably healthy last season in Triple-A Tacoma, his punch, the limited levels of it he had, was gone, slugging .329 for the Rainiers in 69 games.

He's a capable defender at second, has average, perhaps slightly above-average speed, an average throwing arm and below-average power. He does make consistent contact and has solid plate skills and will draw a satisfactory number of walks, but without a plus skill in the tool box, Chen's future, if he has one at the big-league level, is in a reserve role.

The loss of Chen isn't really one at all for the Mariners, as the shoulder injury is a large concern for Seattle - and was going into last season - even if it's healthy enough for him to play, as he just hasn't been the same since.

Seattle, however, was a little surprised Chen was claimed, saying "we thought he'd make it through, but we understand the waiver wire," and wished Chen well, adding "we have always like him as a person and as a player and hopefully he gets healthy and has a career."

chen-claimed

Comments
The following 10 comment(s) for this article are shown below:

1. By: Slurve on 11-12-2008 18:09:44
So he is like Willie Bloomquist? Or a super utility guy? Hate to see him go though...

2. By: Slurve on 11-12-2008 18:20:58
Hmmm funny maybe I'm counting wrong but the 40-man roster on the M's site has 42 people on it.

3. By: Jason A. Churchill on 11-12-2008 18:36:34
He has all the things Willie doesn't except power.

4. By: Jason A. Churchill on 11-12-2008 18:38:28
That list, however, also includes free agents to be Raul Ibanez, Bloomquist and Miguel Cairo.

Take them off, and that's 39.

5. By: NavyChief2004 on 11-12-2008 20:20:12
When did the M's waive Chen? I must have missed it.

6. By: Jason A. Churchill on 11-12-2008 20:31:49
They don't publicize waivers on players they are trying to ultimately keep, particularly young players. They would have preferred to keep Chen, but ultimately wanted that roster spot for someone else. Perhaps a free agent, perhaps a minor league free agent, maybe a Rule 5 pick, a trade, who knows.

7. By: NavyChief2004 on 11-12-2008 22:24:58
Jason, I'd say a free agent of some type. I think it is a bit early to be clearing roster space for the Rule 5 Draft. That isn't for three weeks.

8. By: Slurve on 11-12-2008 23:00:20
Hmmm looks like we also lost woods and assigned Wells and woerman.

9. By: Jason A. Churchill on 11-12-2008 23:12:04
Teams don't clear space specifically for the Rule 5 draft this far out, but they didn't clear it for any one specific reason. They were trying to sneak Chen through waivers, didn't think he'd clear, but were a little disappointed.

You can't do all of the waivers and DFAs all at once, or you have NO CHANCE of sneaking guys through or catching a team unprepared to make a claim.

So, three weeks out, no, not because they think they are going to take someone in the rule 5, but that's exactly who would be taking Chen's spot on the roster, since there is certainly no guarantee that they sign a free agent or make a trade before December 11.

Especially the free-agent route.

There are things the Mariners want to do, and they have to make sure their 40-man is prepared for it. It doesn't mean they get it all done, but they have no shot at it if they don't have the room.

10. By: jgstecker on 11-13-2008 08:50:11
November 20th is the deadline to protect players from the Rule 5 draft(s). By that date, all teams will have their 60-Day DL guys activated, their free agents will be released from their rosters, and anyone not on the 40-man roster will be exposed to the Rule 5 draft. Anyone not on a minor league reserve list will be exposed to the minor league portion of the Rule 5 draft. The Mariners will most definitely add Gaby Hernandez to the roster by November 20th. Probably Marshall Hubbard as well. Those are the only names I can come up with that are potentially exposed and remotely intriguing. The reason you are seeing a glut of unadvertised DFAs right now is because most teams are going through a roster crunch. The M's may not need to be down to 36 players right now, but as long as other teams are in cut back mode, they stand a better chance of getting their guys through waivers. If they wait until the heart of the free agent signing period to DFA guys as needed, the odds of a player being claimed increase because other teams are more aware of their roster capacity and whether or not they can take a flier on a guy. Its pretty much moot for Seattle though. They still have a half dozen guys on the roster who have no business being on any team's major league roster.

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