Wang to throw off a mound in 6 to 8 weeks

January 4, 2010 by Joe Pawlikowski 19 Comments

Chien-Ming Wang visited Dr. James Andrews today, and came back with a positive report. Via Ken Rosenthal, we learn that Wang could throw off a mound in six to eight weeks. Considering the severity of the injury, I expect that it will be closer to eight weeks, which would have Wang throwing off a mound in late February, early March. I’m not sure how long his rehab would take from there, but I don’t imagine he could pitch in even a minor league game before early April. The end of Rosenthal’s tweet got cut off, but it appears that there could be heightened interest in the sinkerballer. What benefits Wang more, though: getting into camp and under rehab with a specific team, or proving his health and then signing?

vin

“What benefits Wang more, though: getting into camp and under rehab with a specific team, or proving his health and then signing?”

I wonder if anyone has a good read on what CMW will do. I’m curious to find out. I suppose if he’s confident in his comeback, then he’ll wait to sign, otherwise let the buyer beware.
- Chris
  
  From his standpoint, it would also depend on the offers. If all he’s getting are minor league offers, then there’s really no reason to sign before proving he’s healthy.
  - Zack
    
    IMO if he gets any offers of guaranteed 2m+ he’ll take it; because even if he rehabs by himself and then signs how much more is a team going to offer? Even if he’s 100% and team doctors says he’s all good, does that give you confidence in him?
    - king of fruitless hypotheticals
      
      500k with 350k per 40 innings thrown?
      
      (keep in mind, that’s a bonus of nearly $10k an inning…how long does an inning take, on average? he could make that in 10 minutes, takes me…40 days? wth?? :)
Andy in Sunny Daytona

Wang is just dangling out there waiting for somebody to gobble him up.
DRU

He’ll get picked up by someone. I would like for him to accept a minor league contract and come back to the Yanks. He could be a nice piece later in the season. I wouldn’t bank on it though, too many teams need pitching ( Mets ), so he’ll get a MLB deal from someone.
- Mike Bk
  
  yeah. if the mets gave a major league deal to escobar, then wang will get one.
  - JMK aka The Overshare’s Excessive Back Hair Complex
    
    I think you’re right that he’ll get an ML deal, but just because the Mets gave Escobar a ML deal does not mean someone will give Wang one.
    
    It’s the Mets.
    - Andy in Sunny Daytona
      
      His name isn’t Chingo Wangirez.
      - JMK aka The Overshare’s Excessive Back Hair Complex
        
        Che Mingus Wangus Aurelius.
- Andy in Sunny Daytona
  
  I could see San Diego being an interesting destination for CMW.
tim randle

…after all that time, he’s still not going to make this year’s pitcher’s and catcher’s start date…i’m not blaming him for it, its just very, very disappointing.

Somebody mentioned hughes maybe starting at AAA and coming up mid year if there were no injuries, and how that’s equivalent to a blockbuster trade. last year somebody said that bout Jorgie et al coming off the DL. I bet Wang could be the same way, its just the fear of signing him for tons of cash with no return that gets in the way.

…would certainly love to see him get signed (soon!) back with the Yanks to minor league deal for next to nothing, with UUUUGE incentive payments for major league innings thrown.

of course, his agent would like to see him signed to VERY LARGE guaranteed dollars i’m sure :(
ADam

His Rehabs have really never gone smoothly… and have never been timely. Best case scenario… if hes stronger, if hes healthier, with 0 set backs I could see him making the 8 week mark.
CountryClub

A couple of weeks ago, one of the “experts” on XM’s baseball channel (might have been Bowden of Kennedy), said that they’ve never seen or heard of a pitcher come back from the injury that Wang had and be the same.

Most of us know that shoulder injuries are worse than elbow injuries. And it sounds like this particular injury is on the wrong end of the scale. Obviously, there are always exceptions to the rule, but the odds of this ending well are pretty slim.
Ed

When are teams allowed to place players on the 60 day DL ?

If the date is early enough, a team could sign Wang at that time to a major league deal, place him on the 60 day DL (freeing the roster spot again), then allow him to rehab in the minors.

If that scenario is a good fit to Wang’s rehab timeline and the MLB rules, I would think it would increase the quality of the offer Wang receives.
- Andy in Sunny Daytona
  
  Last week of spring training, I believe.
Hughesus Cristo

Wouldn’t give Wang anything guaranteed. I wouldn’t **** that with Minaya’s ****.
- Hughesus Cristo
  
  Meaning, I would ONLY give him a minor league deal with REAL incentives, not just “be in the United States on May 1,” type of crap.
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