Chen re-signs with Royals: SI.com reported on Wednesday that the Royals have re-signed SP Bruce Chen to a two-year deal worth $9 million with a $1 million roster bonus and up to $1 million in incentives. The left-hander went 12-8 with a 3.77 ERA and 1.30 WHIP in 155 innings last season. (Updated 11/23/2011)
Injury Report
No information available at this time (Updated 2/12/12).
Fantasy Analysis
Chen has become a reliable starter over the last two seasons for the Royals and will be in their rotation again in 2012. While he does not post any eye-popping stats, he is an effective starter that has a career 4.52 ERA. Target Chen in in deeper Fantasy drafts on Draft Day and only in the later rounds. (Updated 11/23/2011).
01/20/2012 10:32 2012 Fantasy outlooks: Kansas City Royals
Kansas City made progress in 2011, giving some of its top prospects a full shot at the big leagues. As our Al Melchior writes, the Royals might not win the division in 2012, but they can sure help Fantasy owners.
In a tribute to underdogs everywhere, Bruce Chen managed to win 12 games for the second consecutive season in 2011, only this time with an improved ERA of 3.77 -- his lowest for a season in which he made more than 15 starts. In other words, he defied expectations again, continuing to make amends for a career of unfulfilled expectations through a courageous display of guts and guile. His Fantasy owners were especially appreciative of his performance over the final two months of the season, when he went 7-4 with a 3.26 ERA in 12 starts to make a legitimate impact in the playoff picture. Of course, part of the reason he was so valuable then -- at least in Head-to-Head leagues -- was because he was eligible at relief pitcher. That's not the case anymore. As purely a starting pitcher, Chen's mediocre WHIP and strikeout rate make him not so alluring on Draft Day. Back with the Royals for another year to toy with fate, the 34-year-old former top prospect could make another surprising contribution in Fantasy. But the bottom line is he'll be available off the waiver wire if he does. (Updated 1/9/12)
Actual 
AccuScore Projections) Note: Points are rounded down.
= probable start