UPDATE: More on the contract/financials:
chen gets 2-year opt out with $80M deal, and 6th yr vesting option that could make it $96M #marlins
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) January 12, 2016
Per source, Marlins giving Chen $6 M in 2016 and $14 M in 2017 as part of 5 yr, $80 M deal that can reach 6 yrs, 96 M with vesting option
— Barry Jackson (@flasportsbuzz) January 12, 2016
Source: Chen getting $8M signing bonus, $6M in 2016, $14M in '17 before opt-out. Would walk from $52M over three years if he becomes FA.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) January 12, 2016
(Jackson also noted the Marlins have agreed to a deal with infielder Chris Johnson.)
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UPDATE: The Marlins and Chen are in agreement on a five-year contract with a vesting option for a sixth season, according to ESPN's Buster Olney.
Bob Nightengale of USA Today Sports says the deal is for $80 million.
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The Miami Marlins are rarely involved with high-profile free agents, but rumors suggest they're making a run at starter Wei-Yin Chen.
FOX Sports' Ken Rosenthal is reporting that the Marlins "remain in active negotiations" with Chen after he noted the team had been pursuing the left-hander over the weekend.
"While no such move is imminent, the Marlins are showing interest in Chen, according to major-league sources," Rosenthal wrote on Saturday. "The price ultimately could prove prohibitive, but if the Marlins intend to compete, they will need a No. 2 starter."
However, the Marlins are not alone. Rosenthal says the market for Chen is "evolving rapidly" and others are in the mix for him as well.
Previous rumors have linked numerous MLB clubs, such as the Los Angeles Dodgers, New York Yankees, Houston Astros, Washington Nationals, St. Louis Cardinals, San Francisco Giants, Kansas City Royals and others to Chen this offseason, but the fact that he's a client of Scott Boras is a prime indicator as to why he's still available. Boras typically scours the market for the best possible deal for his clients, and it was previously reported Chen was seeking a contract in the $85 million range. It's now believed that number is up to $100 million. (Keep in mind Chen also has draft-pick compensation tied to him after he rejected the Orioles' qualifying offer.)
The Marlins' interest in Chen is peculiar, to say the least. First of all, they're on bad terms with Boras, who also represents Jose Fernandez and Marcell Ozuna - both of whom aren't on the greatest of terms with Miami. The Marlins and Boras have openly criticized one another over the past six months or so.
Additionally, the Marlins' don't have the spending power as a small market club to dish out such a large contract. Aside from the long-term deals given to Giancarlo Stanton and Christian Yelich, the Marlins do not have any other player on their roster signed beyond 2016 (aside from those under club control).
With that being said, Miami's payroll, at this point, is expected to be just $63 million on Opening Day, so perhaps the club feels they can fit in one last big contract before the arbitration prices of Fernandez, Ozuna, Dee Gordon, Adeiny Hechavarria, A.J. Ramos and Tom Koehler begin to rise dramatically.
Beyond Fernandez, the Marlins' rotation has a lot of question marks. They non-tendered Henderson Alvarez due to his shoulder injury and he signed with the Athletics. Other starters such as Koehler, Jarred Cosart, Brad Hand, David Phelps, Adam Conley and Justin Nicolino are either unproven or mid- to back-of-rotation arms.
Adding Chen would be an enormous upgrade for Miami, but it all depends on how much the left-hander will cost.
