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The Baltimore Orioles have announced that they have extended the $15.8 million qualifying offer to starting pitcher Wei-Yin Chen, first baseman Chris Davis, and catcher Matt Wieters.
The Orioles have made Qualifying Offers to LHP Wei-Yin Chen, INF Chris Davis, and C Matt Wieters.
— Baltimore Orioles (@Orioles) November 6, 2015
Chen, 30, is testing free agency for the first time in his four-year career. The left-handed starting pitcher from Taiwan has shown durability and improvement with each year he has been in the league. In 191.1 innings last year, he posted an 11-8 record with a career-best 3.34 ERA. Being an effective pitcher in the usually difficult American League East will work in Chen's favor during free agency this year.
Davis, 29, will attract many suitors as a power-hitting left-handed bat. Despite his recent PED suspension, teams will take the production, as seen by the Cardinals signing Jhonny Peralta. It's worth noting that Davis' suspension was for an ADHD drug that he had previous clearance to use (he also had an exemption for 2015). Unlike Peralta, Davis provides an uncommon level of power. In 2015, Davis bounced back from an abysmal year of 26 home runs and a .196 batting average with 47 home runs and a .262 batting average.
Despite a comparably down year, Wieters will earn attention from several suitors this offseason. The 29-year-old Wieters only hit .267 with eight home runs over 75 games as he recovered from Tommy John surgery. The surgery (usually associated with pitchers) will have little effect on his appeal in free agency. The switch-hitting catcher has shown hints of power, hitting 22 or more home runs from 2011 to 2013.
All three Baltimore Orioles free agents will likely reject the qualifying offer.
