MLB

WANG’S ARBITRATION HEARING GOES RIGHT FOR BOMBERS

TAMPA – Chien-Ming Wang’s quiet personality dictates he won’t allow losing at the arbitration table to affect his pitching. However, if Wang gets off to a slow start, he can expect to hear that as the reason.

After Wang participated in the first day of spring training yesterday at Legends Field with a bullpen session, the Yankees’ best pitcher across the last two years discovered a trio of arbitrators had ruled in the Yankees’ favor. Wang’s representatives and Yankees officials presented their cases in a marathon hearing Thursday in St. Petersburg.

Wang went 19-7 with a 3.70 ERA in 30 games and was paid $489,000 last year. He requested $4.6 million and the Yankees countered with the $4 million offer that was accepted. The $4 million represents the highest salary arbitration award for a first time eligible starting pitcher.

“We haven’t [gone to arbitration] since 2000 with Mariano Rivera,” said club president Randy Levine, who presented the Yankees’ case. “However, when the agents and players demand is disproportional to the market, we have to go.”

Wang was OK with the verdict, according to his agent.

“He is fine,” Alan Nero said. “He was prepared. It’s a business, we move forward and he is excited about the season.”

Because it was a $600,000 difference, many insiders were surprised the sides didn’t reach a middle ground and avoid having Wang hear negatives about what has been a solid career (46-18) outside of October’s ALDS vs. the Indians, in which he was rocked in two starts.

“Based on where the market is there is no room to go higher,” GM Brian Cashman said. “The mid-point made no sense. We filed and we defended it.”