Chen hasn’t appeared in the majors since since the 2019 campaign and didn’t pitch anywhere last season after spending the previous three years gobbling up innings in Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball. The 38-year-old lefty will keep his career going with a stint in the independent American Association.

Chen's five-year, $80 million contract with the Marlins was a major flop and they released him last November. He caught on with the Mariners on a minor league contract but was cut loose by them in June, at which point he signed with Japan's Chiba Lotte Marines. The 2021 season will be his first full one back in Japan since 2011.

The Mariners signed Chen to a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training in February. He was released by the Marlins in December despite still being owed $22 million after posting an ugly 6.59 ERA in 68 1/3 relief innings for Miami the previous season. He's now free to sign with another club, but interest will likely be limited. 

Chen arrived in late January on a minor-league contract and remains an option for back end of the starting rotation, although he'll likely have to outperform fellow veteran Kendall Graveman to secure a spot. Chen could certainly also fill a multi-inning role out of the bullpen, where he operated exclusively for the Marlins last season and generated a career-worst 6.59 ERA and 1.54 WHIP across 45 appearances.