Writing the Pine

I’m sorry Omar Minaya, but you’re willing to spend $66M on a 31 year old outfielder who plays sub-par defense in the black hole known as the Citi Field outfield but you’re seriously not interested my man Chien-Ming Wang?

First time around didn't work out so well...

This is a former back-to-back 19 game winner that played for the Yankees in the big, bad scary New York market. He was 5-0 in 2008 before suffering a Lisfranc injury in an interleague game against Houston.I know he’s coming off a terrible season, but that was because he didn’t trust his fully healed foot leading to altered mechanics.His release point was 5 inches higher than normal leading to the eventual shoulder injury that ended his season in 2009.

According to Wang’s agent, there are 15 teams in the Majors interested in him and the METS ARE NOT ONE OF THEM? How is that even possible?  Before tacking on another year in your offer to Bengie Molina, realize that Wang is only 29 years old and is the perfect low-risk/high-reward pitcher to sign for your rotation.  The Yankees already have Sabathia, Burnett, Pettitte, Vasquez, Chamberlain/Hughes in their rotation and are STILL interested in bringing him back.

You guys said you'd get a #2 . . .

I think the Mets have Johan Santana penciled in to start 162 games.  No, seriously.   Ok, maybe not.  But Wang, if healthy, can be your #2 behind Santana and pitch 200 innings for you.  He’s a ground-ball pitcher in the mold of Brandon Webb with opponents describing his best pitch like hitting a “bowling ball.”  In spacious Citi Field, his proclivity to give up some long balls in 2009 will be assuaged by the deep dimensions in Queens.

Try Hitting this Ryan Howard

So for the love of God, since I love good rivalries and I want Wang to end up on a good team, give him a one year contract for $5.5 MM with incentives that escalate the deal to a 2 year / $12 -$14 MM deal.  He’ll be getting a raise and an incentive to prove his injuries are behind him.

If he turns out to be a bust, he’ll still be cheaper than a year of Oliver Perez (sorry).

I'm going to show up out of shape again . . .

And if he turns out to be a stud?  You have a pitcher for another year at a very affordable price when starting pitching is at a PREMIUM.

In fact, Cashman are you listening to this?  Let’s get Wang back in the Bronx. (You know, IF he’s healthy.)

Sexy....

I know it’s a big “if”, especially when it comes to shoulder injuries, but I would rather spend $5+ million on a high-upside starting pitcher than splurge in a sub-par free agent market.  Your division rival just got Roy Halladay.  You’ll face Halladay, Hamels, and Happ.  And you can only muster Santana, Perez, and Pelfrey.

And for the Love of God, please don’t go out and overpay for Joel Pineiro.