Park Agrees to Terms
News blogs, sports blogs, entertainment blogs, and more from Philly.com, The Philadelphia Inquirer and the Philadelphia Daily News.
Park Agrees to Terms
Todd Zolecki
Chan Ho Park has reached a tentative agreement with the Phillies.
The Phillies have reached a tentative agreement with free agent righthanded pitcher Chan Ho Park, Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. just confirmed.
Park must pass a physical before the deal becomes official.
The Korea Times reports it is a one-year, $2.5 million contract with performance bonuses that could push the contract to $5 million. It quotes Park as saying, "I was a little worried about the Citizen Bank Park, the home of the Phillies, which is hitter-friendly, but as they considered me as a starter, I signed with Philadelphia."
Park's name first surfaced last week during the winter meetings in Las Vegas as the Phillies were searching for a relief pitcher who can throw multiple innings. Park is believed to be that guy, although Amaro wouldn't discuss Park's role, specifically, when he was asked about Park's quote that he would be considered as a starter. I'm sure that's not a stretch. Park has started in the past, and perhaps this is a similar situation as Chad Durbin last year, when he came into spring training as a reliever/starter. The Phillies like to have as much depth as possible. I think Park will be in the bullpen, but he obviously is capable of starting should the need arise.
I don't think this means the end to Jamie Moyer or anything like that.
Park went 4-4 with a 3.40 ERA in 54 appearances (five starts) last season with the Dodgers.
*
The New York Mets haven't exactly been a strong squad in recent Septembers. A major reason has been their bullpen.
They've been brutal.
But the Mets think they addressed those shortcomings last week when they signed Francisco Rodriguez to a three-year, $37 million contract then traded for Seattle's J.J. Putz. Both are closers and all-stars. Rodriguez set the single-season record with 62 saves for the Los Angeles Angels last season. Putz had a combined 76 saves in 2006 and 2007, but struggled with injuries in 2008 -- although the Mets think Putz's last two months with the Mariners show he is back.
*
Chase Utley meets with reporters today at Citizens Bank Park to talk about his hip surgery.
Comments (61)
So this is the final piece of our Pen. (GROAN!!) As I see it our Pen can be 7 deep. Lidge, madson, Condrey, C. Durbin, Eyre, Romero and Park. Cheese is saying that Park indicated that the Phillies view him as a starter--Which I hope is wrong and he just didn't undertand the English. Id hate to see him as a starter. Not sure I want to see him as a reliever to be honest.— jeff gross- Rodriguez and Putz compared to Chan Ho Park....advantage Mets.— rockinrob
- It'll be interesting to hear how Chase is doing as he rehabs from surgery.— KarenA
- 1— jeff gross
- i don't like this signing. Park has pitched(unsuccessfully) in a hitters park before (TX), and isn't going to fare much better in Philly. He is famous for being on the wrong end of baseball records...like giving up 2 grand slams to Fernando Tatis in 1 inning....Cut him now...save the $$
- This is probably just another guy to compete for the 5th starter's spot, but should Park lose out, he doesn't go to Triple-A like Happ, or Kendrick or Carrasco...he goes to the pen. I am not sure what to think of this move. I understand it, but I am not sure I like it, simply because Park only ever seems to pitch well in pitcher-friendly Dodger Stadium. When he went to a hitter's park in Arlington, he was horrible. Who knows... this will have to be one of those wait and see moves, I guess.— RollinsWasRight
- Can you say "dynasty". If they're leading him to believe he may be a starter, that leads me to believe they're having serious doubts about Moyer re-signing.— B in DC
- I said it before and I will say it again; Amaro scares me. My gut tells me his moves are for the sake of flexing his power and NOT to make sound decisions. I can't see Park being much of a help. I hope I am wrong, but I don't think I will be.— Clem
- dumb move with kids like Carasco, Happ and Kendrick looking to fill that 5th starter spot or get some big league experience in the pen. Park has been nothing more then mediocre his whole career.— cheesesteak17
- RWR: I think we have enough people trying out for that 5th stater's job. I count Kendrick, happ, Carpenter and Carlos. Figure even if Moyer isn't back, Park is not the 4th starter so we still need to pick one up. I just am having trouble seeing him starting. In the Pen I can see him perhaps. Not thrilled with this one— jeff gross
- rockinrob: You're comparison is pointless and stupid. It's Madsen and Lidge vs. Putz and K-rod.— doorspj24
- I wondered how you guys viewed Durbin last year. He turned out well. They guy had a 2.16 ERA in 5 spot starts. I think a lot of you are wrong not to see this what it is--to give us a guy who used to be a starter, a good one at that, for multiple innings out of the bullpen. It only shores up the pen and could give us a 5th starter/emergency starter out of the pen.— bobbyuk
- rockinrob- your argument makes no sense. What about the rest of the bullpen? You're just comparing the people who were signed this year. I'd much rather than Madsen to set up Lidge any day over what the Mets have, even if they improved this year. The Phils had one of the best bullpens in the majors last year and the Met had one of the worst. 2 players on the Mets and 1 (add-on at that, not losing anyone) on the Phils won't change that. Advantage Phils.— androoo
- I agree with Matt on this one. This move is nothing to get excited about either way. And Jeff - you named all minor league pitchers as competing for the 5th spot, it doesn't hurt to throw in a veteran. Even though we would love to think that one of the minor league guys (or Kendrick) can live up to the hype and become that guy, there are no guarantees. A veteran who can fill the role if need be is an ok pick up. Think of Chad Durbin last year, this is the same type of move. They probably just promised him that he could compete for a starting spot, not that he would be one. I don't think this signals the end of the FA moves in the pitching area or a direction that the team is going in, he's just another arm for the pen.— Gary Varsho
- Chan Ho is going to the bullpen people, this is not a move to replace Moyer!!!!!!— Matt
- realize that he is taking Seanez's roster spot, Matt. Since you post here once a decarde, I'd watch who you call idiots. If you look, Park is a multi inning guy why Seanez was a one inning and out guy. Not the same. We have a multi inning guy named Condrey already. What does he add to our pen? only thing I see is the ability to speak Korean— jeff gross
- Are you saying you missed me Jeff?— Matt
- I think Chan Ho Park is an upgrade over Rudy Seanez, that's the role he's going to fill when it all shakes out.— werththewait
- There is no reason to get excited about it either way. You're right Werth, all you should compare Park to is Seanez. Middle inning guy who may be an emergency starter.— Matt
- Madson + Lidge > Putz + K-Rod...meanwhile, Chan Ho has a lifetime 2.44 ERA versus the Mets - that's not bad at all. But this guy is totally a Rudy Seanez replacement, who can spell Durbin on occasions (since Durbin clearly gassed at the end of last season).— tjc
- matt: i missed you as much as I miss the Mets winning the division LOL) I understand you see him as Seanez's replacement, but I'm not convinced that that is what management thinks, and,a s RWR says, be stinks in hitter friendly parks— jeff gross
- Is Juan Cruz still available? I'd like to see the Phils get him.— Matt
- Here's something worth considering - Chan Ho would be the third best reliever on the Mets...on the Phillies he's at best our fifth or sixth? I view him as an upgrade over Condrey, but otherwise he should allow Charlie to play the match-ups, as we've got Durbin and Park to face right handed batters and Romero and Eyre to face lefties. I like this signing a ton.— tjc
- This is just a depth signing people, calm down. The front office won a World Series making signing like this. The Mets needed a whole new bullpen, we didn't. Ours won us a Series.— scotty82
- This signing is good at 2.5m. An extra pitcher can only be good. If he is here for the 5th spot to compete with the young guys coming up, great, more competition. If he pitches well and a young guy also pitches well guess what? You can trade him for what you really need. Other clubs were interested in him. You can't have too much pitching. What if that 2.5m investment turns into a solid infielder (through a trade) to take Utley's place while he is rehabbing? It would look like a pretty smart investment. If he sucks and is released, so what? You took a chance.— cupajoe
- I don't think we signed a FA to use as trade bait. If someone else really wanted him they would have uped the offer. Not they would have to pay 2.5-5 million + the player we traded him for. I know we needed another pitcher in the Pen, I'm just not sure that this is who we needed, but as said, our management is great at getting unsung players and turning them into crucial pieces of a WS team— jeff gross
- jeff - I think the idea of the trade would be if they traded someone else because they have depth, not trade Park.— Gary Varsho
- Pitchers get hurt, and a contending team needs a lot of warm bodies in the bullpen, and at Triple A. This is a warm body. If he pitches well, he'll get innings. If he doesn't, they'll move to Plan B (or C or D). Those hammering Amaro, are way premature.— willl
- Hammering Amaro is way premature, I agree. He still has PG as an advisor and they just won the WS. If this guy said he wanted to be a long reliever I'd feel much better about the signing. But, they took a chance on Lidge last year and also got hammered on the blogs. They also found a few others like Durbin and Seanez so they deserve some slack.— cupajoe
- I agree that signing Park is good insurance. You have to remember we were REALLY lucky and most of our pitchers were healthy for the entire season (I guess the only exception was Gordon)that's pretty rare.— KarenA
Comment removed.- 2008 Park had 5 spot start @LAA 4IP 3H 2R 1ER 2BB 3K CLE 5IP 3H 1R 1ER 2BB 9K LAA 6IP 4H 0R 0ER 0BB 7K @SF 6IP 3H 1R 1ER 3BB 7K FLA 4IP 9H 4R 3ER 1BB 4K 25IP 22H 8R 6ER 8BB 30K ERA 2.16— sos84bk
- more arms the better. i say sign as many pitchers as you can and see what sticks. the phils showed last year that if a guy is no good they won't force him in b/c they paid him. if they were willing to eat money on eaton (no pun), then they will do it again if they had to.— timm2
- The "CHEAP so n so's! Wait another 25 years again! "GREED wins out again!— losteagle
- I agree Park is an upgrade over Seanez since he can throw multiple innings. Seanez is considerably older, as well, so if Park is successful, maybe they'll have him for a couple years. Now they just have to trade Eaton for a couple Korean/English dictionaries for Dubee and Ruiz. Wait...I guess one should be Korean/Spanish...— B in DC
- OKAY, we've discussed Park's signing enough. What's the opening day lineup? I vote: Rollins, Vic, Ibanez, Howard, Werth, Feliz, Donald, Ruiz. That can go: L,L,L,L,L,R,R,R or R,R,L,L,L,R,R,R depending.— jeff gross
- Rumor has it the Phils are trading Eaton to the W. Valley high school team for a blonde to be named later and are paying his salary and giving teh school a gift of $2 million as well LOL— jeff gross
- no way ho lol starts long relief if we unlucky— lawrence2465
- Chkd him out in the mlb.com archives. Looks like he still has it, at least for a couple of innings. If you got a minute and want a laugh check out the NY Daily News Sports Page comments on Hamels. Over 280 comments, almost all obsessing on the Phightins, except when they're calling each other really nasty names and suggesting certain personal exercises which are physical impossibilities. You can almost see the mouth slather and nostril snot comming off the page. It's a blast.— jp
- I'm crazy, I think Moyer and Park should be 5th starters - neither last many innings, so let one start and the other releave!— russ4philly
- Park a few years ago, was a washed up guy. He increased his fastball from 88 to 92 mph last season and had nice success. Durbin got burned out by the all star break last year having to pitch multiple innings every day Myers, Moyer or Eaton started (and was gone by the 4th-5th inning)......if indeed we are going to re-sign Moyer we need another pitcher like Park in the pen and if Moyer breaks down at 46yo Park can start in his place. A great signing for this team. It puts him in the right place at the right time with the right team. Good move Rube!— Mark1npt
- Comment removed.
- Rockinrob: Relax dude, Lidge is the closer and Madson the setup guy to go against Krod and Putz.. Park will not have that role.. So I don't think the Mets have the advantage, just so you know.— gallen024
- "rockinrob: You're comparison is pointless and stupid. It's Madsen and Lidge vs. Putz and K-rod." Throw in Romero too— brew7676
- While you guys are right about the matchup in set up and closer, Rob was pointing out the quality of the pitchers signed by both teams as FAs so far.— jeff gross
- Jeff - to your point, the "quality" of the signings is usually dependent on the need of the team. The Mutts needed to sign high dollar free agents because they are the ones choking year after year. The Phillies don't need big splashes, they are World F***ing Champions! And don't discount the Ibanez signing as not being of high quality - that's going to be a signing that I think you will come to appreciate over the course of the next season.— Gary Varsho
- Jeff, here's my opening day lineup - JRoll, Bruntlett, Ibanez, Howard, Werth, Vic, Feliz, Ruiz. S,R,L,L,R,S,R,R - Jeff, I think you have Werth tagged as a left-handed bat in your LLLLLRRR or RRLLLRRR setups. When Bruntlett was playing every day last year, he was a decent hitter, and his speed is undermentioned - 9 steals for a guy who was on base probably less than 100 times - including PR for Burrell, (he had 20 appearances as a PR, apparently. If ESPN has a count for total times on base, I don't know how to find it). That's a 20-25 steal season if he's playing regularly - not bad.— B in DC
- Moyer signs 2 year deal.— Gary Varsho
- Bin DC: You are correct I did have Werth tagged as a RH for some (stupid) reason. Thanks for the correction. As for 2B, I like giving Donald the chance and keeping Brunlet as the late inning replacement for Ibanez or whatever. There is no point in even giving Donald a chance to learn 3B in AAA if he can't hit in the Majors.— jeff gross
- WIP is reporting Moyer is resigning.— timm2
- Gary: We won the WS with Werth and Vic trading off batting 2nd. Why change that? Also, I like Inabez in the 3 place do to his ave. More guys on base for Howard. Werth can protect him. Note to think on, Feliz was Bobby Bonds' 5 hitter in SF for years. If he comes back from his surgery and hits like we thought he could, he could bat 5 and let Werth hit 6 like he did in Post Season.— jeff gross
- Todd, shameon you for being scooped by Dave on the Moyers signing. At least be first with the terms— jeff gross
- Jeff - I didn't mention the order, but while on topic, Utley has to bat 2 or 3. Which means Ibanez bats 5 or 6. Ibanez may have good average, but he is SLOW! You don't want him clogging up the bases in front of RBI guys, and I would rather him bat 5/6 to pick up more RBIs.— Gary Varsho
- Good news about Moyer! mlb.com says 2 years, but no $$$ mentioned. Park may want to rethink the starting job thing...— NJLouis66
- Gary: First of all I gave a lineup for opening day when Chase won't be playing yet. Secondly, no one can clog up the bases in front of Howard, not even a solid rock not moving LOL— jeff gross
- NJLouis66: That could be why they didn't announce this earlier, so park wouldn't realize that he had no chance of being a starter. I think it's pretty clear the Phils want to give one of the rookies a chance as the 5th starter— jeff gross
- i still think we're an all around better team than the mets. ibanez signing was absolutely huge. whatever moyer can give us is great and park should be a nice fit in the pen. works fine— pistolabus1
- Jeff: Zo has the story, he's on WIP doing an interview, hard to type and talk at same time....LOL.— jimmymack
- Thanks Jimmy, no WIP where I'm at— jeff gross
- Dudes! It's a very inexpensive 1 year contract for a quality pitcher. If he goes on the DL and doesn't pitch an inning it still is only a financial blip. Remember Freddie Garcia? Amaro does. This is a great signing to add insurance to starting or middle relief at a super cheap price. If there is true concern, pitch him on the road, as opposed to at the Bank. It is a smart move that is not a game changer, per se.
- Dudes! It's a very inexpensive 1 year contract for a quality pitcher. If he goes on the DL and doesn't pitch an inning it still is only a financial blip. Remember Freddie Garcia? Amaro does. This is a great signing to add insurance to starting or middle relief at a super cheap price. If there is true concern, pitch him on the road, as opposed to at the Bank. It is a smart move that is not a game changer, per se.
1
About this blog
The Phillies Zone is the place for up-to-the-minute Phillies coverage from the Inquirer.
Matt Gelb
Inquirer Staff Writer
Bob Brookover
Inquirer Baseball Columnist
Search this blog:
Classifieds:
Site Services:
Partners:
Powered By:
