Wei-yin Chen signs with Orioles

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BALTIMORE -- Taiwanese left-hander Wei-yin Chen and the Baltimore Orioles have agreed to a three-year contract worth $11.3 million, a move aimed at improving a starting rotation that struggled last year.

Chen went 36-30 with a 2.48 ERA in 117 games, including 88 starts, over the last four seasons with the Chunichi Dragons of Japan's Central League. The 26-year-old will become the first Orioles player born in Taiwan.

Chen has "exceptional command" with a 92 to 94 mph fastball and a hard breaking ball as his "out pitch," Orioles executive vice president Dan Duquette said.

Chen gets a $250,000 signing bonus and salaries of $3,072,000 this year, $3,572,000 in 2013 and $4,072,000 in 2014. The Orioles have a $4.75 million option for 2015 with a $372,000 buyout.

To clear room on the 40-man roster, the Orioles designated outfielder Kyle Hudson for assignment. Hudson went 4 for 29 in 14 games with Baltimore last season.

Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press

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