Chien-Ming Wang signs with Nationals
By Editorial Staff
The Washington Nationals signed Chien-Ming Wang to a one year incentive laden contract that starts at $1 million guaranteed and can earn up to an additional $5 million in incentives.
Wang who will turn 31 in March has not pitched in a major league game since July 4th 2009 while still playing for the Yankees. From 2005 to 2009 he won 59 games for the Yankees with a 4.16 era had two 19 win seasons. Wang’s best years were in 2005 and 2006 where he put up stat lines of
2005- 19 wins and 6 losses with a 3.63 era and an era+ of 125
2006- 19 wins and 7 losses with a 3.70 era and an era+ of 122
Since then though he managed to pitch in just 27 of which he started in 24. Over the last three seasons his career has been derailed by injuries
2008- ended the season on the DL with a torn lisfranc ligament and a partial tear of the peroneus longus
2009- ended the season on the DL with a torn shoulder capsule
2010- missed the entire season while rehabbing from surgery
Wang was originally signed prior to the 2010 season by the Nationals to a one year deal in the hopes that he would return to play in July or August last season which did not happen. Instead Wang missed all of 2010 and the Nationals then non tendered him making him a free agent this off season. Wang however wished to stay in Washington and liked the way that he was treated by the organization while trying to rehab and recover from his 2009 surgery.
He pitched this fall in the instructional league and appeared to have no set backs and appears to be ready for 2010. Which is more than likely what led the Nationals to signing him to a low risk high reward type of contract.
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