TAMPA – Chien-Ming Wang’s desire to sign a multi-year deal with the Yankees isn’t going to be fulfilled. Nor does it look like the ace right-hander and the club are going to avoid an arbitration hearing tomorrow in St. Petersburg.
Wang, who is 38-13 across the past two seasons and 46-18 in 82 big league games, filed an arbitration figure of $4.6 million. That was $600,000 more than the Yankees’ number. Yet, the sides can’t find a way to split the difference, never mind talk about long-term contract.
“I want to,” Wang said of inking a multi-year contract. “They told me it’s not the time because for pitchers it’s hard to stay healthy.”
After an inflamed right shoulder cost him two months of the 2005 season, there have been questions about Wang’s health. However, he hurled 218 innings in 2006 and 1991/3 this past season. Wang will 28 next month.
Proof that the Yankees view position players differently than hurlers, they gave second baseman Robinson Cano a four-year deal worth $30 million this winter. Cano, like Wang, was eligible for arbitration for the first time.
Wang was spanked by the Indians in last season’s ALDS, going 0-2 with a 19.06 ERA in two starts and giving up 14 hits in 52/3 innings.
With Andy Pettitte 35 and Phil Hughes and Ian Kennedy raw rookies, Wang continues to be the ace of the staff.
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Hideki Matsui was slated to arrive in Tampa last night, and he will huddle with the medical staff today to see what course of action is taken with his surgically repaired right knee. Matsui had surgery in November and could be on a lighter program at the start of camp. . . . Joe Girardi will hold a staff meeting today that is expected to last at least four hours. Tomorrow is reporting day, and pitchers and catchers will take physical. First workout is Friday.