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進入《TAIPEI TIMES 焦點》 MLB star Chen in contract limbo
Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Wang Wei-chung, left, and Baltimore Orioles pitcher Chen Wei-yin, right, make a heart sign at a media event in Taipei yesterday. Photo: Fang Pin-chao, Taipei Times
POSSIBLE CHANGES: The Taiwanese baseball player said he would need to readjust his mindset if he is traded to play for another MLB team next season
By Shelley Shan / Staff reporter
Major League Baseball （MLB） pitcher Chen Wei-yin （陳偉殷） said that he entrusts his agent with negotiating his contract, adding that he would not let a possible trade affect his performance on the field.
Chen, currently of the Baltimore Orioles, returned to Taiwan with his family yesterday morning after securing 16 wins last season. When Chen entered the Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport terminal, he was immediately surrounded by fans who had been waiting all night in the hope of greeting him in person.
Despite the fact that Chen won more games than any other East Asian player in the league last season and is also the first left-handed pitcher to earn wins for the Orioles in the past 17 years, it was reported that the team might be using him as a bargaining chip to trade in players from other teams.
In response to the reports, Chen said he would let his agent, Scott Boras, handle his contract.
“I really cannot decide whether I should stay or go. Scott has given me some positive answers about my performance on the field and my contract. I choose to trust him. I am prepared for the possibility of changing teams and would not let it affect me,” Chen said.
Chen added that this is his first experience in the US transfer market and that he would have a hard time deciding where he should go.
“It would be better if a trade does not happen,” he said. “If it does, I need to quickly adjust my mindset and be prepared to keep performing to the best of my ability.”
Chen attributed his impressive performance last season to several key factors, including his knee operation before the season began and changes in the team’s starting catcher and pitching coach.
“I have told myself to not think too much about changes and to learn to accept it. I did not expect those changes to have such a good effect,” he said.
Chen also commented on the changes Chen made to his game, which he said had undergone significant improvement.
He added that he had changed the way he holds the ball when he is about to throw — a technique that brought about positive results.
Chen said another effective change was his increased use of sliders.
“I hesitated when I tried new techniques and returned to my old way of throwing when they were not working,” he said. “However, the pitching coach reminded me that I needed to try to persevere.”
Aside from spending time with his family and continuing his personal training, Chen said that the purpose of the trip home was to give out baseball scholarships to students and train young players.
新聞來源：TAIPEI TIMES
Fans have their photograph taken with Baltimore Orioles pitcher Chen Wei-yin, center, at a media event in Taipei yesterday. Photo: Fang Pin-chao, Taipei Times
