KANSAS CITY, MO– The Kansas City Royals have agreed to terms with left-handed pitcher Bruce Chen on a one-year contract for 2011. The contract is pending a physical exam. Consistent with club policy, terms of the contract were not disclosed.
The 33-year-old Chen won the Joe Burke Special Achievement Award for the Royals in 2010, leading the pitching staff with a 12-7 record while posting a 4.17 ERA in 33 games, including 23 starts. He began the campaign as a non-roster invitee to Spring Training after signing a minor league contract and opened the year at Omaha (AAA) before having his contract purchased by KC on April 23. The southpaw made 10 relief appearances, picking up his first career save, before joining the rotation on May 30 at Boston. Chen capped his solid season with a two-hit shutout in a 7-0 win on October 1 against the A.L. East Champion Tampa Bay Rays.
Born and raised in Panama City, Panama, Chen is 48-50 with a 4.64 ERA in 292 career Major League appearances (144 starts). He now resides in Surprise, Ariz.
