Your new Chan Ho Park
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Your new Chan Ho Park
David Murphy, Daily News Staff Writer
The past two seasons, the Phillies bullpen has received a critical boost from a former starting pitcher who re-invented himself in the bullpen. In 2008, it was Chad Durbin. Last year, it was Chan Ho Park.
This year, Jose Contreras will attempt to fill the void. The Phillies have agreed to terms on a one-year deal with the hard-throwing Cuban righthander, according to a league source, and are hoping he can fill the void created when they gave up on re-signing Park.
Terms are unknown at this point, and the deal is not expected to be announced until Contreras passes a physical.
General manager Ruben Amaro Jr. acknowledged yesterday that the Phillies had been in frequent contact with Contreras' agent, but downplayed the significance of the interactions. Conteras will most likely fill in as a reliever, a role he has not filled regularly since his rookie season with the Yankees.
The righthander could theoretically contend for the fifth spot in the team's rotation, but both veteran lefthander Jamie Moyer and young righthander Kyle Kendrick would have to falter for that to be considered a realistic option.
Contreras proved to be a pivotal boost to the Rockies' bullpen last season during their fight for a playoff spot. In 17 innings, he allowed three runs and struck out 17, starting two games, then five relief appearances at the end of September. He faced the Phillies twice in the NLDS, allowing one run and striking out three while walking two in two innings of work.
Before last season, Contreras had made just two relief appearances since his rookie season with the Yankees in 2003. His best year as a starter came in 2005, when he went 15-7 with a 3.61 ERA for the White Sox during their championship campaign. He struggled as a starter since then, but the Phillies are hopeful he can make a transition to the bullpen similar to the one made by Park last season.
Interesting enough, the Phillies' two bullpen additions this offseason are both former Cuban defectors, righthander Danys Baez being the other one.
Contreras defected in 2002 while pitching for the Cuban national team during the American Series in Mexico. He originally signed a four-year contract with the Yankees before being traded to the White Sox in 2004.
At 6-foot-4, 224 pounds, the 38-year-old complements a low-to-mid 90's fastball with a change-up and slider.
The Phillies now have six relievers under contract, with prospect Antonio Bastardo the frontrunner to fill the remaining void. With veteran lefty J.C. Romero expected to miss up to a month, and with closer Brad Lidge questionable for Opening Day, young lefty Sergio Escalona and righthander Scott Mathieson will also have a chance to contend for a roster spot in spring training.
Other options include lefthander Mike Zagurski. Righthander B.J. Rosenberg, who showed promise at Class A last season, will also be in spring training.
Comments (93)
Decent little signing. He can relieve or spot start. Provides depth in the competition for SP5 if Kendrick struggles and Moyer fails to fully recover.— jpk
Worth a shot— mick314- If you followed the Rockies at all last year, Contreras threw the ball very well with top velocity at the end of last year. If he can still throw like that, we got a real nice addition to the staff.— bradco
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- Nice addition to the team.— lev3472
- Big signing? Not really.— phillyfan412
I just hope they got him cheap ...- this year's Chan Ho Park— JesseH
- He is only 38 years old. Surprised Ruben did give him a two year deal.— Dull
- still would love thte idea of sheets, but oh well... that second year of moyer a killer...like the third years of ibanez and polanco might be....— jim715
- @extremeteam and jim715 Sheets is probably asking for to much money and would be a high risk low reward kind of guy where Contreras is a low risk high reward type of guy that is why they signed him.— rpknfn14
- A decent pick up for long relief and spot starting here and there.— KWM5046
- Me gista El Cubano Grande! Muy Bien RAJ..— cadilacjack
- Why not... insurance quote engine (HTML deleted)
38? dudes like 50- Getting a little TIRED of guys like "flindo47" dissing the Phillies' Old Guy. I truly hope there is a roster spot for him. If you gotta pay him, you might as well see what he can do!I personally would love to see him start out as the #5 starter.....and unless he PROOVE'S that he can't do it, the job would be his all year. Some of you folks FORGET what a competitor, what a PITCHER he is!If anything, I would imagine that his competitive juices would be flowing like a river this year, and I can't wait to see him (and the whole Team) again.— TBear
- JesseH clearly didn't read the title of this article. Or he's being ironic.— B in DC
- Ibanez, Baez, and now Contreras. RAJ is collecting old Cubans like it's going out of style. This team is now taking the Latin Kings title from the Mutts.— GodofSports
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- There's going to be a lot of Mojitos and cigars in the clubhouse. He's going to win the 5th starter job. Watch.— EL Zorro
- 5-13 with a 5.42 ERA last year— eagles84
- "Should have given Sheets a try out." The Phillies DID have someone at his recent workout. Sheets is looking for $7-9 million though.— JimG
- The only person who can help Moyer recover is Ponce de Leon.— podunko
- The Phillies stove is ON FIRE! Not a bad signing. So he competes against Kendrick and Moyer for the 5th spot in the rotation. If that doesn't pan out, he's the new middle relief guy.— aWESome83
- He's horrible, saw him throw against the Phils when he was with the Whtie Sox and he sucked. Expect an ERA of around 5, but who knows if he can be a reliever.— borncynic
- This would be a good signing....if we still had Park on the roster.— bjlindy
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- you never have enough pitchers— bigphillydad
- This is enough for me...."Contreras proved to be a pivotal boost to the Rockies' bullpen last season during their fight for a playoff spot. In 17 innings, he allowed three runs and struck out 17, starting two games, then five relief appearances at the end of September." Exactly what we need, I do not see how this is a bad signing.— PhilliesPhan86
- Sheets wants to start, wants $8-10 mil/per and doesn't want to play in Philly (wnats to be home in Texas). We don't want him because he'll make Freddy Garcia seem like a stud. Sheets has been on the DL more than Bedard in his career. Contreras may be 38 officially, but to me he's always looked atleast 5 years older. If he's really 43 as I suspect, that makes for quite a staff with he and Moyer on it. I wouldn't count on much durability.— Mark1npt
- PERFECT SIGNING— soliteryman
- Is Pedro out of the picture all together?— AZIGGSFAN
- I'm glad there's somebody else out there that appreciates what Moyer brings to the team. He got lit up a couple times but kept us in most games he started. I think he even led the team in wins last year. What I remember most, though, is his performance when he got sent to the bullpen. Pedro couldn't finish 2 consecutive rain delayed games. Moyer came in and was masterful in both games. Sends chills down my spine just thinkin' about it. I'm rootin' for ya, Jamie!— vafan
- Looks like RAJ is getting quite an AARP discount with his signings once again!— teeleeinHbg
- Why not CHP or Beimel?— RichNC
- Hey Dull.....You a funny guy!!!!— john little
- Kenny_Junod....Rich Quiqley sez No More Boooing The Phils!!!— john little
Flindo47 -- I cannot believe I'm saying this about a 45 year old pitcher, but Dude! wake the eff up. He was 16-7. ANYONE who would call a 16 game winner in the BIGS (no matter how old) a batting practice pitcher is the one who should be in a nursing home. your SENILE— soccerdad1150- Watched him a lot last year with the Rockies, he is a good pickup. Expectaions are not high, but he should exceed them. Good Luck to Chan Ho Park, did like him.— cote32
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- What happened to Mike Koplove? He was tearing it up in spring training and in AAA last year and they didn't give him any love.— Yatzee!
- Im just really LOVIN' this TEAM!!!!!!!!!! Cant wait— eastender
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Polanco is a ballplayer! Don't gripe about him until you watch him play a little. He was a great pickup that will help the team in a lot of ways. Hopefully, Contreras has something left to contribute, too.- Comment removed.
- hey dull, can you read, its a one year deal...— bsbullie
- People keep forgetting that Jamie Moyer led the team in wins last year.
- We are making progress----no one has mentioned Cliff Lee yet.— richsal
- I would rather have Pedro— FloridaBrian
- I like this signing. His fastball looked pretty good last year, On the downside, he gives up a lot of home runs.— p-diddy
- Pedro is toast, he can't go every 5 days over 6 months at his age and with his damaged arm post surgery. Chan Ho had durability issues according to Cholly and the team in that he couldn't pitch as often as Cholly wanted him to, meaning every game of the season when you use 5 pitchers a night to finish the last 2 innings of a nothing game in May. Cholly had better manage Lidge a little better this year or he'll be done by June. You don't need to use 5 pitchers a night when 3 will do. Better management of the pitching staff should be a priority this year.— Mark1npt
- All you Jamie Moyer haters, just ask yourself which Phillies pitcher leads the team in wins the past two years.— Bake McBride
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- JesseH is right ..... He essentially fills Chan Ho's role from last season ..... Why not? ..... He seemed to flourish in short relief in the National League.— PhightinPhil
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- If there is another bullpen show on tap this year on MLB tv they will now officially need an interpreter.— bigtbone
- I like Jose and of course, Sheets would be a hoot if his arm doesn't fall off!— KGKoons
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- I like it too. What would be a great boost is if Happ or Kendrick could have a fairly big year, and bump to No. 3. Then, Blanton at 4 and Happ/Kendrick/Contreras at 5. Moyer is done. Bastardo can spot start in a pinch.— eman
- Until the Marlins get their roof we need a long man to complete those 2 hour rain delays in the second inning. Hopefully Kendrick and Moyer can platoon for the fifth starter, save Moyer for the Rockies and Marlins and keep him away from the Mets, Cubs and Dodgers. Thankfully we play the Marlins like 92 times a year :)— phasor
- Good signing under the circumstances, even though the circumstances are of Amaro's own doing. Let's go back to the day we picked up Lee's $9MM option for 2010 and when free agency opened. And let's just non-tender Blanton and get that $8MM for 2010 out of the way. First, sign Scutaro for SS at $4MM x 2 (like Boston later did - and get the same defense for half the cost). Then sign Polanco to play 3B. Next, package Rollins and Ibanez to Boston for Buchholz and maybe a couple of prospects (with Lackey signed, and still needing a SS and an OF, since they knew they wouldn't be able to re-sign Bay, what a steal for them - a no-brainer). That's another $20MM per year for the next two years off of the payroll. Now trade for Halladay, but make it Brown and Drabek. Keep Taylor for LF in 2010 with Francisco - both RH hitters by the way (and cheap). And you keep D'Arnaud by including Brown instead of Taylor. The rotation is Roy, Cliff, Cole, JA and Clay (and if you can't extend Cliff, you still get 2 picks and still have Buchholz). Lineup is Victorino, Polanco, Utley, Howard, Werth, Taylor/Francisco, Scutaro and Ruiz. A better, more consistent leadoff (as Rollins is 4th wortst) and another RH batter to replace Ibanez's LH bat. And guess what! You have $24MM to extend Lee and Werth, but since Moyer's $8MM will be gone after 2010, you allocate that to Lee and only need to eat $6-8MM into the $24MM. So say you have $18MM left, you can still cover Victorino's $2MM salary increase, extend Werth and have a little money left over. Oh, you believe the hype about the farm system being depleted? Its a crock, but fine. Swap Buchholz for prospects (say a SS prospect MLB-ready in 2 yrs +/-). Or tender Blanton then trade him for a few low-to-mid-level prospects. Or both. And then take a flyer on Contreras or another free agent, or let Moyer and Kendrick battle for the 5 spot. Point is, the math works for Lee, Werth and Victornio if you sacrifice J-Roll, Raul and Joe. I'd do it every time.— bm2626
- can't hurt having an extra hard throwing, experienced pitcher in the pen, or as emergency 5th starter...What's NOT to like about the signing?— drjimmy
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- Anything new on Gagne?— Repubrebirth
- RUBEN dipping into the trash bin again, we got this guy, but we couldn't give SCOTT EYERS a decent contract, so he'd come back for one more year?— dfrancis1958
- Ruben is the man. I like the signing a lot. He's a guy who should earn a spot out of the bullpen. He pitched very well there at the end of last year for the Rockies.— KidCole35
- Ruben is the man. I like the signing a lot. He's a guy who should earn a spot out of the bullpen. He pitched very well there at the end of last year for the Rockies.— KidCole35
- Good signing will help for a post season push and the expirence he brings will help the younger players to develop.— Murray11
- los Phils just signed Rico Dubez as new pitching coach.— dasher
- Watch out! Raul Castro may have sent Contreras to kill Baez for defecting.— Delaware Jim
- I like this. Contreras has post season cred with 14 games and 5 World Series appearances.— jtj06
- I am still outraged we traded Lee....Amaro gets credit for the worst move ever by a gm for that....— procol33
- I thought he was throwing great in the playoffs...good move.— wooderice
- This morning I picked 10 out of 10 winners from the stock market yesterday.......just sayin'........easy to play Monday morning QB after the fact, especially when you don't know all the facts....we all know what bm stands for.......you can't trade players that people don't want, like Blanton, and on top of it name your price? You can't trade for people like Halladay and dictate to the other team who'll they take and like it.....go back to your fantasy league and leave the real world to the real GMs.— Mark1npt
- I like it!
- It's hard to believe that Moyer is making as much as Cliff Lee, and we got rid of Lee because of money. Get rid of Moyer!!! Bring back Pedro!— King Of Philly
- I hear he is signing a 1 Million dollar deal..... Thats pretty good for a guy that can throw hard— Smittyaecs
- I find 2 flaws in BM2626's lengthy thought out piece on how the roster should have been constructed. One, I'm not at all sure Boston trades Clay Buchholz for Rollins and Ibanez. Buchholz is a stud. Granted the Red Sox could use some offensive pop, but Raul and Rollins would be tough to justify trading for him, let alone adding a couple prospects. If I'm Boston, I much prefer having Buchholz and Scutaro than Rollins and Ibanez. Secondly, I've never seen him play, but I think your mention of trading Domonic Brown kills the chain. It sounds to me like he's another Dave Parker, and they project him as a more effective player than Michael Taylor.— KBland
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- KBland: good points about BM2626's interesting post. I, too, doubt that Boston would make that deal and also agree that Brown is the lynchpin of the Phillies farm system for the future. The funny thing about proposed deals and scenarios from fans is the failure of the GMs involved to go along with the suggestions. But BM2626 deserves credit for a well-reasoned post. Contreras could be a useful signing, as every team has a well-traveled veteran or two in their bullpens. Obviously the keys for this team next season are Hamels and Lidge, particularly the latter. Fortunately, the division still reeks, as the Mets are floundering in the off-season, the Braves are good, not great, the Marlins are good, not great, and Washington is dreadful.— chuckw
- is moyer really going to be pitching for the phils next year??? say it aint so...— dsoul
- ChuckW and KBland, appreciate the thoughtful responses. My point is mainly that there were several other options that the Phils could have explored to improve their team. So we can disagree. That's cool. Mine is just one example. There are others. As to Buchholz, I just mention that Boston is actively shopping him now and most of Boston's beatwriters believe he'll be gone by Opening Day as they have 6 starters and Buchholz is what brings the good return. More than that, however, his stock has slipped over the last year. By many, he's not considered a "stud" anymore. The Lackey signing was what many in Beantown believe was his ticket out the door (and the biggest indication of what Boston thinks of him at the moment). And there was scut in Boston that they like J-Roll and that Raul would give them an OF that can be a true DH too, if and when necessary. For $20MM, when Bay would have cost $16.5MM, you get Raul and Jimmy. With Beckett, Lester, Lackey, Dice-K and Wakefield, Buchholz is trade bait. They got Scutaro and Cameron (with 6 starters), hardly what they wanted. And I would rather not trade Brown too. But to manage payroll and balance age with youth, sometimes timing is more important. With the Phils lineup of All-Stars, I'd take Taylor if he's a serviceable major-leaguer since it increases the ability to retain Werth, Howard et al. He doesn't need to be a star. We need role players too that have experience at the big league level so we can make informed decisions on guys like Werth (who I would like to keep). And it would have left us a catcher prospect in the farm (D'Arnaud). But even without Buchholz being involved, I'd do the deal just to get rid of the combined $20MM per year x 2 that they are owed to keep Lee, Victorino and Werth. Just get Scutaro and prospects for them and then keep Blanton. Still gives you a rotation of Roy, Cliff, Cole, Joe and JA, and a deeper farm system. I'd still take that. Sorry for the long post (again).— bm2626
- To Mark1npt, thanks for your thoughtful post. You're right, we couldn't "dictate" that Toronto take Brown. Brown's just the guy they wanted more than Taylor....And a blog post is for fans. Not GM's. That's why we blog here and they don't. I've never had a fantasy team of any kind. Not football. Not baseball. Last March Madness pool I did was about 10 years ago. I'm a lawyer but occupation and manage a $10MM department budget and responsible for the inner-workings of a $20-30 billion volume per year business. So forgive me if I'm not overwhelmed by the challenges of managing a MLB. I readily admit that MMQB'ing is easy. That's why we do it. But to suggest that this is really rocket science is ridiculous. Its really hard to get the best pitcher in baseball when the only team he'll go to is Philly. Please. Just disagree with my post and provide thoughtful alternatives or suggestions. You're assessment of my initials is just brilliant. I think I first heard that in 1st grade about 30 years ago. I, like most parents, teach my kids that when people make fun of you and can't speak articulately or intelligently, they're just deflecting their own insecurities. Its true for adults too you know. So relax. This is a blog. Its supposed to be fun.— bm2626
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- bm2626 once and for all proves lawyers get paid by the word.....— M60tanker
- It seemed that his pitches still have a lot of break and movement on them. I like having a crafty veteran out there. This deal has a very nice upside.— Nigel#1
- personally would love to see Ben Sheets here this year— Bob Crogan
- M60tanker: You're right! Funniest post I've read thus far. Thanks for levity. There's an old legal maxim: If I had more time, I'd right a shorter document...— bm2626
- Pitching, or should I say lack of it, is going to kill the Phillies this year. But at least they restocked the minors by trading Lee.— mibrze
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