Under the contract, he could earn US$5.2 million (NT$160 million) a year in salaries and bonuses, according to reports in the Chinese-language media quoting sources as the star’s agents.

The Nationals were planning to announce the deal at a news conference in Florida this coming Friday, February 19, local time, in Wang’s presence, the reports said. Wang was expected to report for training in the Sunshine State on March 8.

Wang, known as the Glory of Taiwan, spent five years as a pitcher with the New York Yankees before they allowed him to become a free agent last December.

Before surgery on a shoulder last July cut short his final season, Wang had also suffered injuries to his right foot in 2008.

Wang, 29, was 1-6 with a 9.64 ERA last year, when he made a reported US$5 million. With the Nationals, he is expected to earn a basic salary of US$2 million a year, though performance bonuses and other potential awards were expected to bring the total to more than US$5 million, reports said. His contract was expected to last one year, according to reports published by Taiwanese media.