Another Wang Decision

by jscape2000 on Nov 11, 2009 8:08 AM EST in New York Yankees Analysis

As for Chien-Ming Wang, his agent, Alan Nero, said surgeon James Andrews cleared the righty to throw beginning on Dec. 1, and that he could be ready by mid-April or early May to pitch in regular-season games after shoulder surgery.

However, Yankee doctors have not seen Wang and the team plans on non-tendering the righty rather than risk paying a minimum of $4 million for him in 2010. The Yanks will then consider if he is worth offering a low-base, incentive-laden contract to return.

Early May is the earliest estimate I've heard.

Obviously, I've never sat in on an arbitration, but Wang has gone 9-8 with a 5.78 ERA and 1.53 WHIP in 137 IP over the last 2 seasons. I doubt he would make much more than the minimum.

Unless the Yanks think that Wang will sign a two year deal or a one year with an option (like Jon Lieber and Sergio Mitre), the difference of a couple million dollars seems triffling.

The Yankee brass has always seemed to undervalue Wang, taking him year to year rather than working out a long term deal like they did for Robbie Cano.

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stupid stupid stupid

Wang made $5 million this year, and can take up to a 20% pay cut in arbitration. So yeah, he’s probably making $4 million next year.

What do they Yankees think they can get him to sign for if they non-tender him? $2 million? Somebody will (and should) take the gamble on Wang, and non-tendering him to save a million or two bucks seems to be a very foolish risk on the Yankees part.

by 3460kuri on Nov 11, 2009 9:14 AM EST reply actions

Agreed ...

It might be different if we were the Royals or Pirates. Thankfully, we aren’t, and the $$$ discussed is trivial—especially considering the guy was our best pitcher in the not too distant past.

"Baseball is the background music of my life." -George Will

by Ronster22 on Nov 11, 2009 9:39 AM EST up reply actions

It seems they always had concerns

over his health and potential long term health or ability to be effective.

He’s mostly been a one pitch pitcher. They look smart lately.

I hope this works out. I like Wang more than they seem to.

If I's known I was going to live so long, I'd have taken better care of myself. Casey

by Cbeck3 on Nov 11, 2009 10:55 AM EST up reply actions

They've done okay with another one-pitch pitcher ...

"Baseball is the background music of my life." -George Will

by Ronster22 on Nov 12, 2009 9:32 AM EST up reply actions

The Yanks have never given

Wang his due, and perhaps they’ll turn out to be right. Since their infield isn’t getting any younger in the near term, they probably should focus on strikeout pitchers. CMW certainly has reason to feel unloved, but that’s Yankee baseball. If Joba and Hughes can get their heads straight, they’ve got the talent to push Wang out of the rotation altogether.

I always feel pressure. What I don't have is fear. -- El Duque

by LateInningRelief on Nov 11, 2009 11:34 AM EST reply actions

I'm nervous about two things...

1 – Wang’s mental and physcial health, and
2 – SP #3-5, , or #4-5 assuming we resign Andy, which I think is very likely

I think with expanded rules, Joba will do fine as #4, but I think we need a better #5 as I can see either Huges or Joba (if Huges starts) goes to the bullpen. For the $2M, I’d throw it at CMW to see if he can turn it around.

by coops2001 on Nov 11, 2009 3:15 PM EST reply actions