Explaining Wang's Lack Of Options

As Steve noted in the last post, Chien Ming Wang is out of options and cannot be sent to the minor leagues without passing through waivers. This has confused some, as Wang has only been sent down once since joining the major league club. Let’s allow Rob Neyer’s Super Duper Transaction Primer explain:

When a player is on the 40-man roster but not on the 25-man Major League roster, he is on “optional assignment.” One common misconception about the rules is that a player may only be “optioned out” three times. Actually, each player has three option years, and he can be sent up and down as many times as the club chooses within those three seasons.

When you hear that a player is “out of options,” that means he’s been on the 40-man roster during three different seasons, beginning with his fourth as a pro, and to be sent down again he’ll have to clear waivers.

The key here is that you do not need to be sent down for n option to expire. Basically, because Wang has been a professional for more than 6 seasons and has spent the last 3 seasons on the 40 man roster means he has used his option years. However, even if Wang had options, I doubt that the Yankees would send him down. Here is Dave Eiland’s take:

The pitching coach Dave Eiland said Wang’s problem is simply that he is rusty, and has not pitched in major league games since tearing a foot ligament in Houston last June 15.

“He was O.K. in spring training, but he wasn’t the Wang of old, so to speak,” Eiland said. “Spring training’s spring training; you can’t judge what a guy’s doing, good or bad. The regular season is totally different. In spring training, it was the same thing. But there’s no big secret answers here. He’s got to pitch his way through this.”

Eiland said he actually saw progress on Saturday, pointing to a 1-2-3 first inning and an infield squibber that started the Indians’ 14-run second inning. After a three-run homer by Shin-Soo Choo, though, Eiland said Wang lost confidence and let his mechanics slip.

The Yankees believe some rust combined with waning confidence is to blame for Wang’s troubles, and they are going to let him pitch through it. Let’s hope that they are right.

Follow Me On Twitter