晴空卍丈

Chien Ming-Wang is still a free agent, and from what I know, he has a number of suitors. I believe he will not be ready for the start of the season, but are the Yankees still considering bringing him back, or have they decided to cut the ties entirely?
-- Bennett P., Woodmere, N.Y.

There was some talk that the Yankees would like the opportunity to match any offer from another club before Wang accepts a deal, but obviously that is not guaranteed. When Wang was non-tendered in December, general manager Brian Cashman said the club was "still hopeful that our relationship can continue" -- something he wouldn't say if there wasn't any interest.

There isn't any firm timetable on when Wang will be ready to pitch in the big leagues again, though his agent has mentioned May. If we've learned anything from this offseason, any contract to Wang would have to fit into the Yankees' budget constraints. They weren't willing to take the chance of paying at least $4 million, and probably more, in arbitration.