Yankees release pitcher Wang
Pitcher Chien-Ming Wang opted out of his minor league contract with the New York Yankees and plans to sign with the Toronto Blue Jays.
Wang signed with the Yankees on March 23, and the 33-year-old right-hander was 4-4 with a 2.33 ERA in nine starts for Triple-A Scranton-Wilkes Barre. New York released him Friday.
He originally signed with the Yankees in 2000 and went 55-26 in five seasons. Wang has been slowed by injuries since then, starting when he injured his foot in 2008.
Wang was 2-6 with a 6.68 ERA in 10 games last year in his third season with Washington.
Agent Al Nero said the agreement with Toronto was in the process of being finalized. The Blue Jays' 4.56 ERA is 28th in the major leagues.
NOTES: 3B Alex Rodriguez, coming back from hip surgery in January, increased his running program, going from first to third on the grass just behind the infield dirt at the team's minor league complex in Tampa, Fla. ... New York RHP Michael Pineda, who missed last season after shoulder surgery, is expected to start a minor league rehab assignment Saturday night with Class A Tampa. Pineda was acquired in the January 2012 trade that sent C Jesus Montero and right-hander Hector Noesi to Seattle.