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Chan Ho Park was one of the stalwarts of the Phillies bullpen in 2009, so when the team surprisingly pulled an offer from the table to sign other relievers, there had to be a reason other than a simple negotiating snafu.
Andy Martino in the Philadephia Inquirer has a report that Park really wanted to stay in Philly, and was taken aback when the team pulled the plug on his contract negotiations to instead sign Danys Baez and Jose Contreras.
One potential reason for the Phils' lack of aggressiveness in bidding for Park was manager Charlie Manuel's view that the righthander was not always willing to pitch through minor injuries. In complimenting Baez and Contreras last month as pitchers who would never refuse to take the ball, Manuel was likely offering tacit criticism of Park.Now here's the most interesting thing: according to reports, including this in the Express-Times just last week, Park was offered a $3.25-million deal from Philadelphia earlier in the off-season but balked, if you pardon the expression, in hopes of finding a starting gig. Now comes the report after signing with the Yankees for just $1.2 million that he wanted to stay with the Phillies all along. In fact, when Martino asked if he was excited to be a Yankee – you know, the team that won the World Series over the Phillies – Park seemed indifferent."I was disappointed in what he said," Park said. "That's what he thinks, but I don't think it has any meaning. He still is my favorite manager. I didn't talk to him, and I didn't believe it" when he first heard about the comments.
"We'll see," he said, shrugging.That's not exactly what Park is telling the New York media, as the NY Post follows a quote from an excited Brian Cashman talking about the depth Park brings to the bullpen with this line from Park:
"It's an honor to be with the Yankees," said Park, who threw off flat ground and will throw a bullpen session today. "It wasn't an easy decision. A lot of teams [asked]. I had fun last year."The Phillies and Yankees face off in Grapefruit League action this Thursday in the first of five spring training games between the two World Series clubs. Let's hope Park doesn't get confused about which locker room to use.
This post originally appeared on the Sporting Blog. For more, see The Sporting Blog Archives.
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Hey, if Park doesn’t want to be a Yankee, the heck with him. Let him pitch for someone else. The Yanks don’t really need him in the first place.
by gehrig460 on Mar 1, 2010 7:53 PM EST reply actions
If he even gives off a whiff about not wanting to be a Yankee, the New York fans and media will eat his marginally useful ass alive! gehrig460 is right; we don’t need him in the first place. He’s always been fragile in body and head. Why sign him?
by ozrocco on Mar 1, 2010 8:35 PM EST reply actions
Chopper (as he was called by Phillies Bullpen Coach Mick Billmeyer) is a middling middle reliever. He won’t pitch through a hang nail, and he was crap as a "starter" in Philly. I liked him when he was good and bad as a reliever. Have fun, New York. Korea didn’t want him, and neither will you.
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by jiam on Mar 2, 2010 4:15 AM EST reply actions
I think it’s natural that he’d feel a little hurt that Philly moved on without him but I think his thoughts about the Yankees are more about whether he thinks he’s even going to make the team or what exactly his role will be. He’s certainly not going to have a primary role in the bullpen. We’ll see.
by yankeepride61 on Mar 2, 2010 6:51 AM EST reply actions
This is just the media trying to stir the media.
Whether Park is the best pitcher in the pen or the worst, the bottom line is he is a pro
He wiull go out and try his best to win.
by damnyankee13 on Mar 2, 2010 12:13 PM EST reply actions
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