NEW YORK — Former ace Chien-Ming Wang and power-hitting Jack Cust joined an already saturated free-agent market when they weren’t offered contracts for next year by their teams over the weekend.
Wang, a 29-year-old right-hander, was a 19-game winner in 2006 and 2007, starting the Yankees’ postseason openers in both years, but he hasn’t been the same since severely injuring his right foot while running the bases at Houston on June 15, 2008.
Wang was 1-6 with a 9.64 ERA last season before undergoing surgery in July.
Former Rockie Cust hit .240 with 25 homers and 70 RBIs for the Athletics last season, but he struck out 195 times, becoming the first player to lead the AL in that category three straight seasons since Minnesota’s Bobby Darwin from 1972-74. Cust whiffed 164 times in 2007 and 197 times in 2008.
Closers Mike MacDougal and Matt Capps, along with starter Tim Redding, were also among 39 players allowed to go free. All but 12 of them would have been eligible for salary arbitration if they had been offered contracts.
The Los Angeles Angels let loose Jose Arredondo amid reports he needed Tommy John surgery and would miss all of next season.
Teams can re-sign players they let go, and the rule limiting salary cuts to 20 percent does not apply after they become free.
In a slow-moving market, just 32 of the 171 players who filed for free agency after the World Series are known to have agreements for 2010.
Others let go included Cincinnati outfielder Jonny Gomes; Chicago White Sox reliever D.J. Carrasco; Atlanta outfielder Ryan Church and second baseman Kelly Johnson; Boston outfielder Brian Anderson; Mets outfielders Jeremy Reed and former Rockie Cory Sullivan; and Phillies pitcher Clay Condrey.
Among players recovering from surgery, Chicago Cubs left-hander Neal Cotts, Milwaukee right-hander Mark Di-Felice and Washington left-hander Scott Olsen were let loose. DiFelice was not eligible for arbitration.
While more than 200 players were eligible for arbitration during the World Series, Saturday’s moves left about 150.
On Sunday, the Blue Jays agreed to terms on one-year contracts with utility player Jose Bautista and pitcher Dustin McGowan.
Also, the Indians signed right-handers Anthony Reyes and Adam Miller to minor-league contracts, and right-handed reliever Grant Balfour agreed to a $2.05 million, one-year contract with the Rays, avoiding arbitration.
