Chien-Ming Wang Signs One Year/$5M Deal with New York Yankees

(Zell's Pinstripe Blog)

Yankees sign Wang to a One-Year/$5M deal & avoid arbitration..

The Yankees signed Chien-Ming Wang to a one-year contract worth $5 million. He didn’t want to go through the arbitration process again. Last year, Wang asked for $4.6 million, but he lost the case and wound up making $4 million.

The price would have shot up a lot more this year, but his injury set him back. Wang will be on the FA market after the 2010 season, and at the same time he will be arbitration eligible.

The only Yankees left who are arbitration-eligible are Melky Cabrera and Xavier Nady. If they can’t reach terms on a deal with them, then they will have to meet at the arbitration hearings early next year.

interesting fact….

• A star in his native Taiwan, Wang, who has won more games than any other Taiwanese-born pitcher, was named one of Time magazine’s 100 most influential people in 2007 for the fact that the Taiwanese stock market rises and falls based on the quality of his starts.

Jeter’s Turn 2 Foundation rewards students for hard work…

Derek Jeter’s Turn 2 Foundation was rewarding hard working students in Central Park today. They hosted 500 of the top academic achievers in the city at the Trump Wollman Skating Rink.

Donald Trump has been very supportive of Derek’s foundation and he provided the rink for the special occasion. They have been running this program for six years now, and it has been very successful.

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The programs are designed for students who are demonstrating positive behavior, academic excellence and leadership qualities, both in school and in their communities. Turn 2’s mission is to motivate young people to turn away from drugs and alcohol and “Turn To” healthy lifestyles.

“It’s without question the most fun we have at the foundation,” Jeter said. “It’s a perfect time of year. We really look forward to seeing the kids during the holiday season and giving them these events.”

“I think they look forward to it,” Jeter said. “We try to mix it up. We’ve had movies, we’ve had circuses, and this year we tried skating. I haven’t seen how cold they are, but it looks like they’re having a great time.”

“We’ve had so much support throughout the years,” Jeter said. “Mr. Trump contacted us and wanted to help out the foundation. He’s been very supportive of the foundation throughout the years. This was a great idea. We have support from a lot of people, that’s why the foundation has been able to survive.”

“It’s cold, but I think they’re enjoying themselves,” Jeter said. “When you’re a kid, you don’t feel the weather that much. I’ve seen a lot of smiles over the years.”

“As much as I’d like to go out there, I’d probably kill myself on ice skates,” he said.

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It’s always nice for the players to spread some holiday cheer. Derek Jeter has been a very charitable person over the years. More athletes should do this. Here is a link to Derek Jeter’s Turn 2 Foundation Web site if you wanted to check it out.

Happy Hanukkah everyone!

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