Chien-Ming Wang

Joel Sherman of the NY Post writes in his blog that the Yankees would consider trading Wang and aren't super enthusiastic about signing him to a mega free agent deal.

Wang is going to be a free agent after the 2010 season so to keep him the Yankees are going to have to pay him elite dollars over a long-term to stay: He will likely have a case that he should be paid commensurate with the five years at $82.5 million bestowed A.J. Burnett. And the Yanks, internally, are not positive about going to such extents with Wang. He has pitched four seasons in the majors and two have been interrupted by injury. They wonder how a pitcher who does not strike out batters will age as he loses some bite on his sinking fastball, especially since he has been sketchy in developing the rest of his repertoire. And he would begin a new contract in 2011 at age 31, so you almost certainly are buying declining years.

 

Now, I'm not advocating that the Rockies consider giving Wang AJ Burnett money, and I don't think the Monforts are ready to shell out that kind of cash on a pitcher, but I think that he would be a good fit. Despite the fact that he "does not strike out batters", he has consistently posted GB in excess of 50%, doesn't walk many, and gives up very few home runs. His GB percentage has actually declined as his K/9 has increased, because he has developed a slider and learned to pitch for strikeouts a bit more. He seems like someone who could consistently post a FIP under 4 and would make a very solid #3 in the Rockies rotation behind Cook and Jimenez. In a normal year he is worth about 4-5 wins. Last year with the Cubs Marquis was worth 1.8 wins, and at this point we are all hoping and praying that he can duplicate that performance. 

For the Yankees to trade Wang this year would probably mean that 1)A Rod is hurt for longer than currently expected 2)they are out of the race in July and 3)Joba and Hughes show the ability to stay healthy and be effective. But the Yankees need middle infield and catching prospects, two areas that the Rockies have a decent amount of depth. Would Rosario + Gomez + Frazier + one of our surplus corner bats like Baker be enough to get a deal done? Would it be worth it to the Rockies? I think if the Rockies are hanging around in the West come July then O Dowd has to pursue pitching, as the offense is good enough to win the division.