Dodgers’ pursuit of Wang apparently is not too serious

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It appears Joe Torre’s affection for his former Yankees ace, Chien-Ming Wang, isn’t enough to push the Dodgers toward seriously pursuing the free agent.

Ken Rosenthal of Foxsports.com has reported that Wang has received offers from two unidentified clubs, and neither is the Dodgers or the Mets. Rosenthal said Wang is expected to sign in the next seven to 10 days.

Wang twice won 19 games for Torre while he was managing the Yankees, but last season he fell to 1-6 with a 9.64 ERA before undergoing shoulder surgery.

The Dodgers are in dire need of a fifth starter and Torre expressed interest in Wang during last week’s community caravan.

‘He was my leading pitcher two years in a row,’ Torre said. ‘You can’t ignore the fact he’s a special young man. With what he’s coming back from, he has to be evaluated.’
The Dodgers are one of several teams that saw him throw on the side a week earlier. The club deemed him several months away from being game ready.

Rosenthal reported that Wang is interested in reuniting with Torre. And with the Dodgers’ candidates for the fifth spot retreads (Jeff Weaver, Russ Ortiz, Ramon Ortiz) and the still unproven (Eric Stults, James McDonald, Charlie Haeger), there would appear to be a potential matchup.

Wang is coming off July 29 arthroscopic shoulder surgery to repair a tear, and the Dodgers apparently view him as too uncertain to fill their pitching need.
-- Steve Dilbeck