The Nationals make it official, signing Chien-Ming Wang:
Chien-Ming Wang is less a purchase than a gamble. The former New York Yankees ace, now trying to recover from shoulder surgery, agreed Tuesday to a contract with the Nationals, according to a team source. Terms were not immediately disclosed, but various media reports — speculating in recent days about Wang’s imminent signing — have estimated that Wang will receive $2 million, with performance incentives totaling another $3 million.
Washington plans to announce the signing at a news conference Friday at their spring training headquarters in Viera, Fla., stamping the official pitcher-catcher report date with a celebrated arrival.
What I’d love to see is Wang comeback at the same time that Stephen Strasburg comes up. Pitching those two back to back at the end of the rotation could help Chien-Ming. I imagine that watching Strasburg heat for a day, and then having to wait on everything from Wang would make things tough on hitters.
It could easily work the other way as well. Strasburg’s heat my look much tougher if batters are used to Wang’s slow stuff.
Update: Here’s a good look at what’s wrong with Wang beyond injuries.
Obviously, we don’t know how Wang’s velocity will be affected by the surgery, but I’m not sure you can classify what he throws as “slow stuff.” Granted, his stuff may appear to be slow compared to Strasburg, but the same can be said about most pitchers. But it’s not like he’s Jamie Moyer out there.
Wang’s average fastball velocity over the past three years was 92.3, with his two-seamer coming in at 90.5. Compare that to Carlos Zambrano (91.5 and 90.4), who no one is going to refer to as a finesse pitcher.
Best of luck to CMW. The worms at Yankee Stadium are breathing a sigh of relief, while the ones in DC are getting nervous.