Bob Dutton of the Kansas City Start reports that the Royals are “making progress in reaching agreement on a new contract” with free agent left-hander Bruce Chen, with general manager Dayton Moore saying that the two sides are hoping to get a deal finalized before the winter meetings next month.
Chen looked just about finished in his late twenties, but got his career back on track in the Royals’ rotation by throwing 295 innings with a 3.96 ERA during the past two seasons.
Dutton writes that he’s seeking a two-year deal in the range of $5 million per season, which is a pretty big commitment to a 32-year-old with a spotty track record and high-80s fastball.
In the meantime the Royals offered Chen arbitration, which means if he does sign elsewhere they’ll get a compensatory draft pick for the Type B free agent.
