New York Yankees pitcher Wang Chien-ming of Taiwan throws prizes to the audience during a promotional baseball event in Taipei November 24, 2007.
(REUTERS/Nicky Loh)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - New York Yankees pitcher Wang Chien-Ming will make a 2008 salary of $4 million instead of his request for $4.6 million in an arbitration decision announced on Friday in favor of the American League club.
The 27-year-old Taiwanese right-hander, whose second successive 19-win season last year gave him the most victories of any major league pitcher over that span, will still receive a pay rise of more than $3.5 million.
"We are gratified and happy to have prevailed in this arbitration hearing," Yankees president Randy Levine said in a statement after finding out the team had saved $600,000.
Levine said Wang had done well himself.
"It should be noted that the $4 million figure which we submitted is the highest arbitration award ever for a first-time, arbitration-eligible starting pitcher," he said.
"Therefore, this should not be viewed as 'a loss' (for Wang). He is a valuable member of our team and we felt that we had reflected this in our filing number."
Wang was 19-7 last season with a 3.70 ERA in 30 starts for the Yanks, walking 59 and striking out 104 in 199 1/3 innings, though he struggled last October in losing twice in the American League Division Series to the Cleveland Indians.
This was Wang's first year of arbitration eligibility and he will not reach free agency until 2011.
The Yankees had not gone to arbitration since 2000, when they won a case against relief ace Mariano Rivera.
(Writing by Larry Fine; Editing by Ed Osmond)
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