TAMPA — Free-agent right-hander Chien-Ming Wang threw off a mound at Billy Connors’ Tampa area home recently and impressed the spring training pitching instructor.
According to Connors, Wang, who will pitch for Taiwan in the upcoming World Baseball Classic, is looking for a major league contract.
GM Brian Cashman said he hasn’t had contact with Wang’s representatives. However, the club will have scouts watching Wang during the WBC, despite having six candidates for five starting spots.
PHOTOS: YANKEES SPRING TRAINING
Wang, whose Yankees career ended in 2009 after a shoulder problem, pitched for the Nationals last season and was 2-3 with a 6.68 ERA. In seven big-league seasons, the 32-year-old right-hander is 61-32. As a Yankee, he was 55-26. In 2006 and 2007, Wang went a combined 38-13.
* Boone Logan long-tossed yesterday with a white sleeve covering his left elbow, and after the workout, which included fielding drills, the arm was covered with a wrap as he sat at his locker.
“We are being cautious with him,’’ pitching coach Larry Rothschild said about the club’s top lefty reliever. “We have decided to slow him down and make sure he catches up before we give him too much.’’
When CC Sabathia said Tuesday he would work off a bullpen mound yesterday, he hadn’t checked with Rothschild. The pitching coach planned to have his ace’s initial pen outing tomorrow.
“It’s nothing, I thought it was Thursday and Larry said it was Saturday. I am fine,’’ said Sabathia, who underwent arthroscopic surgery on the left elbow last fall.
Sabathia long-tossed without a problem.
* Michael Pineda’s ability to get through the conditioning part of camp is directly related to arriving in camp weighing 260 pounds. Last year, his first as a Yankee, he showed up and said he was 280.
“It’s not easy, I needed to work hard,’’ Pineda said of losing the weight.
* Right-handed reliever Shawn Kelley will be in the mix for a job when he gets to camp. He was acquired from the Mariners on Wednesday for minor league outfielder Abraham Almonte.
“He has a good arm and a swing-and-miss slider,’’ Cashman said of the 28-year-old Kelley. “He has an option and we like his ability, so the more the merrier. He will compete for a spot on the team.’’
Kelley was 2-4 with a 3.25 ERA in 47 games for the Mariners last year and was designated for assignment.
george.king@nypost.com