The Marlins’ highest-paid player won’t be ready for the start of the season.
Marlins manager Don Mattingly said Wednesday as pitchers and catchers reported to Spring Training at Roger Dean Stadium, that starting pitcher Wei-Yin Chen would not be ready to open the regular season in late March.
Chen, who is set to make $10 million this season with another $8 million in deferred bonuses, has the highest salary in terms of total compensation on the Marlins’ roster in the wake of an offseason where the team traded Giancarlo Stanton and Dee Gordon.
Mattingly said he expects Chen to be in the starting rotation at some point this season, but he will start a throwing program (as will reliever Nick Wittgren) this spring as he continues to rehab from a left elbow injury that cut short his 2017 season.