If Chien-Ming Wang pitches for the Yankees this season, it means a starter got hurt or pitched ineffectively.
The right-hander who will be 33 a week from today, signed a minor league deal worth $3 million if he makes it to the majors. He will open the season at Triple-A Scranton-Wilkes-Barre.
Wang has an out date in the deal and isn’t in position to collect $100,000 if he isn’t on the Opening Day roster like other players with more than six years of big-league service time who are working on minor league deals.
Wang, who has appeared in 21 big-league games (16 starts) since a shoulder injury in 2009, was at the Yankees’ minor league complex yesterday and worked out.
With Triple-A depth shallow, the Yankees took a chance that Wang can regain the form that produced 38 wins in 2006 and 2007 with the Yankees.
He was 8-2 in 2008 when he suffered a fractured foot running the bases in Houston. A year later, Wang worked in 12 games and had shoulder surgery. Since missing that 2010 season, Wang has appeared in 21 games (16 starts) for the Nationals.
When healthy, Wang had a fierce sinker.
“He’s got to have some velocity behind that sinker to be really effective,” Yankees pitching coach Larry Rothschild said. “He’s developed some other pitches, but he’s got to get outs on his sinker, quick outs.’’
Girardi, who managed Wang in 2008, said he is encouraged by Wang’s performance in the World Baseball Classic for Chinese Taipei and his track record as a Yankee.
“He pitched well in the WBC and this guy has had success before,’’ Girardi said of Wang, who was 1-0 in two WBC starts.
* In Lakeland, right-fielder Ben Francisco hit two home runs on a day the wind was howling out in a 10-6 loss to the Tigers, but it was a performance manager Joe Girardi took notice of.
“He’s swung the bat good the last couple of days,” Girardi said, “and it hasn’t just been against left-handers, we’ve been playing him against right-handers so he’ll probably play [today].” The two homers came against right-handers Anibal Sanchez and Bruce Rondon.
* Center fielder Brett Gardner left the game after five innings because of a stomach ailment.
“He had a little stomach ache where he ate something yesterday and didn’t feel great,’’ Girardi said. “He hadn’t eaten today and I said, ‘Five innings, that’s enough.’ I imagine he will be fine for [today].’’
Gardner did manage to get one hit in three times to the plate. He was replaced by Melky Mesa, who was 0-for-2 and missed a cutoff man on a throw home.
* It was a busy day for Derek Jeter’s replacement at shortstop Eduardo Nunez, who picked up two hits, scored a run, drove in a run and stole a base and did not make an error. The Tigers pounded out 16 hits while the Yankees managed 14. The Yankees were 2 -for-12 with runners in scoring position.
* Girardi said his catching picture is clearer than when camp opened, but he isn’t revealing how he will work Francisco Cervelli and Chris Stewart.
“I don’t have an exact plan. You have to see during the season and see how it works out before you jump into it,’’ said Girardi.
Girardi is also not in a hurry to decide who replaces Mark Teixeira at first base.
“Those decisions may not be made until Army,’’ Girardi said of the Yankees’ game at West Point a week from today. “There is a lot that can happen in the next week. I don’t think you can assume anything at this point.’’
Until Girardi decides who plays first, he isn’t clear Kevin Youkilis is the third baseman.
* Phil Hughes said he came through Friday’s minor league start with “no issues’’ and will pitch again in four days.