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I loved the snow when I was 12.
Now, not so much. Enough is enough.
Chien-Ming Wang is reportedly deciding between two offers on a 2010 contract, one of which is Washington. Wang turns 30 at the end of March, and in 104 big league starts is 55-26 with a 4.16 ERA. A huge winning percentage, .679, but with the Yankees, so weigh it accordingly.
A two-time 19-game winner with sub-4.00 ERA's both years, Wang has made just 24 starts over the past two seasons. In '08 he injured his foot running the bases in an interleague game against the Astros, an injury that had Yankee fans coast-to-coast cursing the National League's lack of a DH rule. Last year he had arthroscopic surgery on his throwing shoulder in July, and was done for the year.
Wang is at an age where he could very likely recapture the effectiveness he showed prior to his injuries 2006-08. The Washington community would likely provide a comfort level for Wang, given its international flavor, and with Wang's top big league salary at $5 million last year, he may be looking for a small guarantee with a lot of performance incentives - not unlike the deal that Erik Bedard just signed with Seattle, also coming off of an injury that will leave him unable to throw until May or later.
The Nationals may feel that Wang is worth waiting for. He's rumored to be making his decision in the next 7-10 days, and sources report that the Yankees have turned the corner on Wang.
On another front, I don't know Farid Rushdi, but he's written an interesting column on bleacherreport.com about the 2010 Nationals. Farid sees the Nats winning around 75 games (I'm in the same range, roughly 75-78 wins), with an outside shot at break-even. He sees the rotation as being Lannan, Marquis, Olsen, Stammen and Martin, with Strasburg joining the quintet later in the season. (He predicts a possible trade of Olsen to make room.)
Farid sees a bullpen of Capps (closer) and Bruney, Burnett, Bergmann, Clippard and Walker. He makes some timely points, and it's a good read.
