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SPORTS A21
Thursday 21 January 2016

Marlins’ peace with Boras pays off in signing of Chen

team owner Jeffrey Loria, Marlins reached a $2.8 mil-
mindful his client is a flyball lion, one-year agreement
pitcher who should fare for Fernandez, who avoid-
well in spacious Marlins ed arbitration. Discussions
Park. about a long-term deal
Boras also represents Mar- have been tabled for now.
lins right-hander Jarred Co- “For the franchise and for
sart, meaning he has four us, we all agreed that when
of their players, including you have a player coming
three starting pitchers. off Tommy John, you’re
“I think Scott represents asking everyone to do a lot
more players on our team of speculation,” Boras said.
than any agent,” Samson “You want to make sure
said. the player is durable and
Last week Boras and the performing at his level.”q

Pitcher Wei-Yin Chen, left, poses with his Miami Marlins uniform as his wife Yi-Wen Tsai, right, takes
photograph following a news conference, Tuesday, Jan. 19, 2016, in Miami. The left-handed
pitcher finalized an $80 million, five-year contract with the Marlins.

(AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

STEVEN WINE “Baseball is like a family — innings limit for Fernandez,
AP Sports Writer you have disagreements,” who returned last season
MIAMI (AP) — Wei-Yin Marlins president David from Tommy John surgery.
Chen posed in his new Mi- Samson said. “But there Boras’ participation in the
ami Marlins jersey, flanked was never an issue during news conference for Chen
on one side by his agent, the negotiations.” suggested the agent and
Scott Boras, and on the Samson’s feud with the team are eager to show
other by team executives agent involved two other they’ve bridged their differ-
as everyone smiled for the Boras clients, Marlins ace ences.
clicking cameras. Jose Fernandez and out- “Yes, there are times we’re
If the Marlins win this year fielder Marcell Ozuna. In going to have disagree-
for a change, it will be November, when Boras crit- ments,” Boras said. “But to
partly because they made icized the Marlins’ handling have a player of this talent
peace with Boras. of Ozuna last season, Sam- be in a place where he has
Chen’s new contract is a son responded by saying an opportunity to succeed
dividend of the truce. The Boras should buy a team if at the highest level, we’ve
former Baltimore Orioles he thinks he knows how to done well by the game
left-hander signed an $80 run one. Samson also said and for the Marlins.”
million, five-year deal an- Boras would be excluded Boras said he pitched the
nounced Tuesday. from any talks about an idea of Chen in Miami to

Darvish denies gambling amid MLB probe

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — in October in Japan for matter again out of respect
Texas Rangers pitcher Yu allegedly running an ille- for Major League Base-
Darvish said he is not and gal gambling ring that re- ball’s investigation and I
has never been involved in portedly took about 1,850 am focused on preparing
gambling activities amid a bets on MLB games as for the upcoming season,”
Major League Baseball in- well as professional base- Yu Darvish said.
vestigation after the arrest ball games in Japan. The Darvish missed all of last
of his younger brother in arrest came after an in- season after having liga-
Japan. vestigation of more than a ment replacement surgery
Darvish issued a statement year. It was unclear if any in his right arm during spring
through his agent Tuesday bets were taken on games training. The 29-year-old
that says he understands involving the Rangers. Darvish is not expected to
MLB must conduct an in- The Japan Times said Osa- be ready for the start of the
vestigation. ka police have not ac- season, but could be back
“I am certain that they will cused Yu Darvish of any sometime in May.
find that I had no involve- wrongdoing. MLB spokes- The Rangers signed Dar-
ment in this matter what- man Michael Teevan told vish from Japan before the
soever,” Darvish said in the the Japan Times in an email 2012 season. In 83 starts
statement through his rep- that the league is aware of from 2012-14, Darvish was
resentatives at the Wasser- situation and looking into it 39-25 with a 3.27 ERA, with
man Media Group. per standard protocols. 680 strikeouts and 218 walks
Sho Darvish was arrested “I will not comment on this in 545 1-3 innings pitched.