More free agents hit market: Wang, Cust, MacDougal set loose when teams don’t offer contracts

Wang, Cust, Redding become free agents

NEW YORK — Former ace Chien-Ming Wang, power-hitting Jack Cust and closer Mike MacDougal joined an already saturated free agent market when they weren’t offered contracts for next year by their teams on Saturday.

By late evening teams had announced they were letting 22 players go free, and all but six of them would have been eligible for salary arbitration if they had been offered contracts. 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 next season.

Others let go included Cincinnati outfielder Jonny Gomes; Atlanta outfielder Ryan Church and second baseman Kelly Johnson; Boston outfielder Brian Anderson; and Mets pitcher Tim Redding, and outfielders Jeremy Reed and Cory Sullivan.

Among players recovering from surgery, Chicago Cubs left-hander Neal Cotts, Milwaukee right-hander Mark DiFelice 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 fewer than 165.

Several arbitration-eligible players agreed to contracts, including a trio of Tampa Bay Rays: catcher Dioner Navarro ($2.1 million), right-hander Lance Cormier ($1.2 million) and left-hander Randy Choate ($700,000).

Also agreeing to one-year deals were San Diego right-hander Kevin Correia ($3.6 million), Atlanta outfielder Matt Diaz ($2.55 million), Baltimore right-handers Cla Meredith ($850,000) and Matt Albers ($680,000 in majors and $275,000 in minors), Boston pitcher Boof Bonser ($650,000) and Texas infielder Esteban German ($600,000/$200,000).

Wang, a 29-year-old right-hander, was a 19-game winner in 2006 and 2007, starting the Yankees’ postseason openers in both years. He hasn’t been the same since severely injuring his right foot while running the bases at Houston on June 15, 2008.

“We’re disappointed. We’ll obviously consider all offers as a free agent, as all free agents do,” said Wang’s agent, Alan Nero.

Wang wound up 1-6 with a 9.64 ERA this year and Dr. James Andrews repaired a tear in the right shoulder capsule on July 29. Wang is not expected to be able to pitch until sometime between April and June.

He made $5 million this year, a $1 million raise over his salary in 2008, when he lost in arbitration.

“There’s no doubt that we had to make a tough decision,” general manager Brian Cashman said in a statement. “We are still hopeful that our relationship can continue, but those decisions are yet to be made.”

Cust hit .240 with 25 homers and 70 RBIs for Oakland last season, when he made $2.8 million. He struck out 195 times, becoming the first player to lead in the AL in three straight seasons since Minnesota’s Bobby Darwin from 1972-74. Cust whiffed 164 times in 2007 and 197 times in 2008.

He had 26 homers in 2007 and 33 the following year, and has topped Oakland for three consecutive seasons in homers, strikeouts and walks (93 last season).

MacDougal, an All-Star for Kansas City in 2003, had 20 saves in 21 chances for Washington and went 1-1 with a 3.60 ERA. He was released by the Chicago White Sox on April 29 with a 12.46 ERA through five appearances and signed by the Nationals on May 3. Chicago remained responsible for most of his $2.65 million salary.

MacDougal has 70 saves in eight major league seasons.

The 30-year-old Gomes, who spent his first six major league seasons with Tampa Bay, hit .267 with 20 homers and 51 RBIs for Cincinnati. He started the season at Triple-A Louisville and was brought up May 22.