In a move widely speculated most of the offseason, the New York Yankees agreed to a minor league contract with Chien-Ming Wang on Friday. The deal makes sense on multiple levels. Wang looked solid pitching in the World Baseball Classic, clocked in the low 90’s with a fastball and an effective sinker and can add depth to a rotation with a ton of upside but health concerns.
Phil Hughes is likely to begin the regular season on the DL recovering from a back injury he suffered at the start of spring. Though Hughes is only expected to miss one start (and only because he won’t have enough spring innings), he has yet to throw 200 innings in his major league career.
CC Sabathia is coming off of surgery, and Andy Pettitte is injury prone and in his 40’s, so extra depth is a necessity for a New York team suffering numerous offensive injuries already this off-season.
Wang enjoyed his best times in the majors with New York, leading the Yankees with a power sinker from 2005-2009 and emerging as their top pitcher in 2006 and 2007 during back to back 19 win seasons.
Though his velocity is down from back then, the soon-to-be 33-year-old reportedly looks more like the 4.04 ERA he posted with the Nationals in 62.1 innings in 2011 than the ugly 6.68 ERA in 32.1 innings in 2012.
Wang is likely the veteran depth signing Brian Cashman tends to make at the end of every spring so the Yankees’ search for starting depth would appear to be over. New York is still trying to figure out its corner infield situation with Kevin Youkilis, Ronnier Mustelier, Juan Rivera, Ben Francisco, Brennan Boesch, Thomas Neil and Melky Mesa all in serious consideration for third base, first base and a corner outfield spot to start the season. New York could also utilize a pitcher like Phelps, Warren or Marshall as trade bait if Wang can demonstrate he is healthy and can still be a MLB caliber starter this season.
More Yankees News: Derek Jeter (ankle) will DH in a minor league game Saturday. Brennan Boesch (rib cage) isn’t worried about his rib cage injury.
