Chien-Ming Wang signs with the Nationals

According to ESPN.com, via MLB.com and the MASN, Chien-Ming Wang has signed with the Washington Nationals. Terms of the deal have not been disclosed yet. The Nationals' team president, Stan Kasten, refused comment but the team will hold a press conference on Friday at their spring training complex.

I think this is a really sad story. In 2006 and 2007, Wang went a combined 38-13 with a 3.67 ERA and served as the de facto ace of the Yankees' pitching staff. Also, winning 19 games each year made Wang the winningest pitcher in MLB over that two-year span.

But all good things must come to an end, and that end came very quickly for Wang. In 2008, his season came to an end in June after he suffered a freak foot injury while running the bases in Houston. In 2009, he went 1-6 with a 9.64 ERA in 12 games before his season ended with arthroscopic surgery on his right shoulder. Wang did not pitch down the stretch or in the playoffs as the Yankees went on to win the World Series without him.

Now, he is the newest member of the lowly Nationals' pitching staff, and he won't even make his first rehab start until May. Even as recently as June 2008, who could have possibly seen this coming?? What a sad day for Chien-Ming Wang and all the Yankees fans who wanted to see this up-and-coming young starter make it in the Bronx.