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Might The Yankees Nontender Chien-Ming Wang?
In today's Yankee notebook for The Journal News, Peter Abraham writes that there "is virtually no chance the Yankees will offer (Chien-Ming Wang) arbitration before the December deadline." However, Yankees GM Brian Cashman said "That's something we won't even think about until November. Those are issues for another day." The 29-yr old Wang is out for the season with shoulder surgery, the second of his career.
As a Super Two, Wang earned $5MM this season in his second year of arbitration, however he still has two more years of team control ahead of him. Abraham reports that Wang hopes to start playing catch by January and believes he will pitch in the big leagues at some point in 2010. Wang also had his 2008 season cut short due to injury, suffering a foot injury running the bases in interleague play.
If the Yanks do decide to nontender Wang, they could attempt to resign him to a minor league contract. That would keep him in the organization, but remove him from the 40-man roster. He also would not accrue service time while in the minors, likely delaying his free agency. Another club could always step up and offer him a Major League contract with an eye towards having him available for the second half of 2010.
In 42 IP this year, Wang allowed 85 baserunners and 46 runs, but was rock solid for New York from 2005-2007, pitching to a 3.74 ERA and a 1.29 WHIP in 82 games. What do you guys think, should the Yankees nontender Wang, or should they suck it up and offer him arbitration after the season and hope he can return to form?
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