Here is a steal waiting to happen. If the Yankees decide to Non-Tender Chien Ming Wang, the Mets should jump all over him.Â
It’s a no brainer. He’s only 30, could be paid very little, and he has a tremendous upside. Wang does, however, need some serious attention and rehabilitation. First, he needs to learn how to run and swing a bat. He needs time to regain his form in a non-pressure environment.   I know the Mets don’t need yet another headache but this one could pay off huge dividends and should be seriously considered.
 Let us look at the upside: If Wang can get healthy, he can immediately be inserted into the rotation. If there is no room, he might be able to help out in the bullpen. He is a  ”ground ball specialist” and has a decent fastball.  Mentally, he is a proud pitcher and may want to prove himself. (With this trait like this, he may want to  stick it to his old ballclub) Let us also not forget that he is already New York tested. He can handle the pressure of playing on the big stage and like all American League pitchers, may buzz through that National League lineup.  Â
There is always a saying that some players need a change in scenery, for Wang it could be a change in pressure. If the Mets are willing to be a little patient with Wang, he could prove to be a valuable asset and contributor to the club.
Any thoughts?
10 comments
njstuckintx
12/12/2009-8:46am at 8:46 am (UTC -4)
Completely agree. High reward if he works out. I would be aggressive to sign him for sure.
I view Wang in the Bedard/Sheets category, but don’t think Wang be the physical liability that Bedard/Sheets will be. Slightly less upside than those 2, but less overall physical liability.
What do you think it would take to sign him, money wise? I would think someone offering 2 years (or more?) should be able to snap him up.
oleosmirf
12/12/2009-9:15am at 9:15 am (UTC -4)
signing one of those 3 players on a 1 year, high incentive deal would be a terrific decision but given Omar’s history I dont think we would. I can guarantee that Theo Epstein will…
dirtysanchez
12/12/2009-9:41am at 9:41 am (UTC -4)
defiantly imo a classic case of low risk high reward player. When he was on his game, he was a handful. If the mets can get him back to that, we would have another legit starter. Id go for him
royhobbs7
12/12/2009-10:04am at 10:04 am (UTC -4)
Good try, BUT……………Inside information from Dr. Andrews’ office (who did Wang’s surgery) suggest that Wang’s through!!!!!!!!!!!!!! He’ll never throw a baseball on a competitive MLB field again (frayed shoulder); this is contrary to what his agent reports (i.e., he’ll be ready by opening day).
These were the words from a fairly reliable source back in August(and a Yankee fan) who was involved in Wang’s rehab after his surgery.
oleosmirf
12/12/2009-10:27am at 10:27 am (UTC -4)
i hope the Mets are seriously looking at acquiring Correia. Maybe they’ll take someone like Nick the Stick or Eddie Kunz
DNDJohan aka kistics
12/12/2009-11:07am at 11:07 am (UTC -4)
But don’t forget, Wang will be tested on FA Market. This means there will be competition for him. He got paid $5MM last year. Perhaps guaranteed $3MM with incentive to go up to $5-6M could work?
GravediggerHebner
12/12/2009-11:22am at 11:22 am (UTC -4)
Honestly, my Yankee hatred always made me a non-fan of Wang. It was very easy for me to dismiss him as a product of a salary juggernaut team who was just along for the ride, and I derided him repeatedly as ‘the luckiest 19 game winner ever.’
But stepping away from my distaste for all things Yankee, the guy has fairly stellar peripheral numbers. The only one I wish were stronger was his K/BB ratio, but I can even live with that considering the low amount of walks he gives up.
My big problem with the idea of acquiring him comes down to this: Luis Castillo. As long as Castillo is the person primarily responsible for fielding ground balls at 2B, I cannot endorse that the Mets acquire a pitcher who has a GB/FB ratio of much more than 1:1, because Castillo has regressed so much (in 2009 he was the worst fielding 2B in the Major Leagues of all who played enough innings to qualify for consideration). The level of frustration of any ground ball pitcher as Castillo dove in vain for yet another ball as it rolled into right-center field would be palpable.
If the Mets are able to upgrade their 2B defense to that of a positive defender then not only would I endorse the signing of Wang, but I would go so far as to recommend the Mets bring aboard 2 GB pitchers from among Wang, Marquis, Garland or even Pineiro.
But until that happens, I feel the Mets will be better served staying away from GB pitchers, and making sure that whoever they sign for LF can get to and catch the ball because Johan Santana (.88 career GB/FB), Oliver Perez (.69 GB/FB) and John Maine (.90 GB/FB) comprise 3/5 of the current starting 5 and they are all fly ball pitchers. Why bring in someone who will suffer at the mercy of Castillo along with poor Mike Pelfrey (1.7 GB/FB) as the grounders roll on through?
CaseStreet
12/12/2009-11:41am at 11:41 am (UTC -4)
very true, problem is that the 2B market is pretty barren.
Lopez is available but he’s going to get overpaid for one good year, when he’s likely to regress to his pre 09 performance
there’s Hudson, but is he that much of an upgrade?
Phillips would be the guy to trade for but the Reds aren’t selling this winter.
GravediggerHebner
12/12/2009-11:51am at 11:51 am (UTC -4)
Other than Lopez, there are no other free agents that I think fit the bill.
Phillips would be excellent but those rumors seem to have cooled.
I’d love to start a rumor about the A’s Mark Ellis but I know nothing about the A’s in terms of whether they’d be inclined to move him. Ellis is making $5.5 mil for 2010 and has a club option of $6 mil for 2011, that sounds like a guy Beane would be willing to trade (but not for Castillo).
stickguy
12/12/2009-2:27pm at 2:27 pm (UTC -4)
Hebs hit on something I mentioned the other day in response to someone that was debating bringing Delgado back for 1 year.
While the idea of a rbound year with the bat from Carlos is nice, can you imaging having Castillo and Delgado standing on the right side of the IF like 2 statues? While every ground ball not hit directly at one of them go through for a hit?
The Mets might have to put on a permanent shift, even with a RH batter up!
I think the D helped do in Plef last year, and if they are going with a nor-range IF again, better concentrate of SO/FB pitchers like Ollie.