CPBL Teams Want Chen

I really have to believe that Chen is going to Japan before even considering Taiwan. I know his brother is on the President Lions, but Chin-feng still has something to prove. He could do that in Japan. With the Los Angeles Dodgers, Chen wasn't given much of an opportunity.

With the number of foreign hitters that haven't had much success in Japan (ie. Luis Lopez, Damon Minor, etc.) some team must be willing to try Chen out.

I recall recently reading something about excluding one Asian from the foreign player limit per team next season. I've been scanning though a couple of weeks of Nikkan Sports, so I don't really have the details - or it may have been something posted here. Anyway, such a move could make Japan the destination for more Asians like Chen. Since Taiwan is considering restricting foreign imports further, I don't think that they'll be happy to lose such talent to Japan.

The above article said many are convincing Chen may play in Japan instead of his native Taiwan. In Japan they say he could command a higher salary and play at a higher playing level.

Chen, I remember when Los Angeles signed him back in 1998 and made his debut in 1999, was supposed to have a great opportunity to play. Sadly, the Dodgers haven't gave Chen that chance at all. Over his career he's batted a total of 22 times in 4 years. This is hardly a opportunity for him. Chen is getting up on age at 28, greatly reducing a chance to play in the majors.

- With the number of foreign hitters that haven't had much success in Japan (ie. Luis Lopez, Damon Minor, etc.) some team must be willing to try Chen out.

Chen, in my opinion, would be the perfect player in Japan for a team like Rakuten or Orix next year. I think numerous teams would rush to sign Chen if given the chance to.

- I recall recently reading something about excluding one Asian from the foreign player limit per team next season.

From the article I posted [Link - Google Cache] it said the CPBL plans on cutting the amount of foreign players from 4 to 2 for the 2006-07 season. I'm not so sure Chen would be included in that group as he's of Taiwanese descent. Chen, I think, would be subject to a draft if he would decide to play in the CPBL though.

I'm afraid I didn't make my statement about the Asian foreign limit exclusion clear. That was in Japan that this is being considered, not Taiwan.

Sorry about the confusion.

Yeah, limiting the foreign quota to two is good for the CPBL. Most of the foreign players they bring in do not perform up to their capabilities anyway.

The CPBL's priorities should be local players first. The foreigners can play in the indepedent leagues in America.