Reds sign Chien-Ming Wang to minor league deal

[Tom Servo]

Former #Yankees Chien Ming Wang signed with #Reds for Minor League contract with Spring Training Invitation. Will earn $1.25M if in 25 man.

https://twitter.com/peterhlwang/stat...78795489054720

[marcshoe]

I guess this is your starter-in-reserve stashed at AAA. I always thought he was interesting, but not in a "I want him on my team" way. Not exactly a strikeout pitcher, eh?

[cumberlandreds]

The World Series is now in our sights!

[wolfboy]

I guess this is your starter-in-reserve stashed at AAA. I always thought he was interesting, but not in a "I want him on my team" way. Not exactly a strikeout pitcher, eh?

He's a ground ball machine with a couple of caveats: he only induces ground balls when he can find the plate; and, when he doesn't induce a ground ball, it usually ends up over the fence. Not the worst filler signing, but if he makes the 25 man out of spring training, we're in trouble.

[dubc47834]

I guess Walt's big move happened 19 Dec 2013....

[Kc61]

Only thing I read into this (and Holmberg) is that Reds will only sign Arroyo if they trade a starting pitcher. I don't see them signing Arroyo simply for insurance. There will be cheap guys stashed at AAA for insurance.

[klw]

I like the move. Good idea to have an experienced guy on a MiLB deal. I had originally hoped for Halladay though I never thought it would actually happen. There are a number of guys who could still be brought in this way so a second guy would not be bad- Johan perhaps?

His AAA numbers last year were pretty solid.
http://www.baseball-reference.com/mi...d=wang--001chi

Enquirier Blog has the story:
http://cincinnati.com/blogs/reds/201...r-league-deal/

Taiwanese pitcher Chien-Ming Wang clinched a deal this week with the Cincinnati Reds that will see him play in the minor leagues with an invitation to the spring training session of the major leagues, his agent said Thursday.

Octagon, the firm that represents Wang, said in a news release that the 33-year-old right-hander agreed to the minor-league deal in the hopes of an eventual return to the major leagues.

Under the contract, Wang will receive a monthly salary of US$15,000, which will be upped to an annual US$1.25 million paycheck if he is called up. His total pay could hit US$3 million if he meets the conditions for bonuses.

Major league spring training usually begins in mid-February.

Chris Chang, an Octagon media relations representative in Taiwan, said that Wang was not too concerned with his salary or which team he will play on.

“What counts most (to him) is a chance to return to the major leagues,” Chang said.

Bryan Price, a manager for the Cincinnati Reds, said he was impressed with Wang’s past performance, noting that although the team has a stable starting rotation, it needs an experienced player like Wang, according to Octagon.

Wang has been training recently in Tainan and is scheduled to return to the United States in early January to prepare for the MLB 2014 season due to begin in late March.

Wang was a star player with the New York Yankees from 2005 to 2008, going 54-20 with a 3.79 ERA until he suffered a career-derailing injury to his foot while running the bases at a Houston game in June 2008.

While recovering in 2009, he injured his arm, ending his career with the Yankees. He has not managed to regain his peak form despite a comeback attempt with the Washington Nationals in 2011 and 2012 and another with the Blue Jays this year.

Chien-Ming Wang to sign minor league contract with Cincinnati Reds December 19, 2013, 8:26

[bob jones]

wow another son woo kim great move, lets sign joe mays next

[757690]

If only the Reds still had Dick Pole as pitching coach to help Wang work out his kinks.

[bob jones]

perhaps jung bong and bubba nelson can help

[Benihana]

A Korean buddy for Choo?

[Old school 1983]

I like the move. Good depth signing of a guy with past success.

[757690]

A Korean buddy for Choo?

I don't think Wang is Korean.

[Benihana]

I don't think Wang is Korean.

Good point, I see now he is Taiwanese. I just assumed Korean, because they usually have the three names.

[cincinnati chili]

If only the Reds still had Dick Pole as pitching coach to help Wang work out his kinks.

The real tragedy here is that the Jays broke up a rotation of Johnson, Dickey. and Wang. I'm pretty sure that was the name of a law firm in a film starring Ron Jeremy in the 80s.