Mets Sign Park

by Alex Nelson on Feb 9, 2007 3:36 AM EST

According to the Korea Times, the Mets have reportedly signed Chan Ho Park to a one-year, 3 million dollar contract. Park is expected to compete for the fifth starter's job.

Back in December, I actually suggested the Mets sign Park over at MetsGeek. His component ratios were among the best of the remaining pitchers available via free agency (6.32 K/9, 2.90 BB/9). He's no spring chicken at 34 years old, and he's not a durable pitcher, but at that price he is probably worth a look.

UPDATE [2:33pm by Eric Simon]: Per ESPN.com, (and anonymous in the comments here) the deal is only guaranteed for $600,000 with the remainder of the reported $2.4 million attainable via innings pitched thresholds. Not a terrible signing by any means.

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I was worried

Great - I was worried about who would be the Mets twelfth starter.

by elliot on Feb 9, 2007 7:45 AM EST reply actions

Mets sign Park?

Apparently there is a special place on the Mets roster for "Worst (something)"; sort of like some teams carrying three catchers. Last year it was Worst Starter, and Jose Lima filled that spot admirably. This year I guess it is "Worst Free Agent Signing," and Park's old deal with Texas certainly qualifies, at least in terms of how damaging it was to that franchise.

But for now, Park is a pitcher who racked up an ERA six tenths of a run higher than league average while pitching in a stadium that, according to Baseball-Reference, was the most pitcher-friendly park in the National League. THAT is what constituted Park's big comeback.

Bad move. There are plenty of AAAA types who deserve a shot more than Chan Ho Park at this point in his career.

ps: I used to have a business contact who ran a Korean television network's American operations in New York; this was back when Park was starting his collapse in Texas. His theory was that his fellow Koreans tended to a "no ass" body type that over the long run robbed them of the necessary leverage to throw a baseball effectively. Or something. I don't pretend I completely understood his point, but I'll probably never get another chance to mention it, so there you are.

by dd on Feb 9, 2007 8:29 AM EST reply actions

San Diego

has done a good job of overhauling their pitching staff if big ass = good pitcher.

They went from small ass CHP to Heath "junk in the trunk" Bell. Boomer Wells too?

Pedro offers you his protection.

by pj on Feb 9, 2007 11:04 AM EST up reply actions

Hmm

On the one hand, Park hasn't had an ERA better than the league since his last season with the Dodgers in 2001. On the other hand, he posted the lowest BB/9 of his career in 2006 and he will only cost $3 million.

The worst part about this deal is that it likely takes a rotation spot away from Mike Pelfrey or Phil Humber, who were going to fight for a spot at the back end of the rotation.

by Eric Simon on Feb 9, 2007 9:25 AM EST reply actions

Pelfrey/Humber

I don't think either was going to start at the big leagues. The Mets will want to make sure Pelfrey has a secondary pitch, and there are worries about Humber's durability after recovering from TJ surgery. I think both were slotted for a half season of AAA at least.

by Alex Nelson on Feb 9, 2007 9:47 AM EST up reply actions

Hmm

I see your point.

by Eric Simon on Feb 9, 2007 10:22 AM EST up reply actions

Pelfrey in the Pen

I think the Mets should considering putting Heilman in the rotation and using Pelfrey in the bullpen. His one pitch is dominant enough to pitch in middle relief and he could work on secondary stuff up here with the big league staff, keep Heilman happy. It seemed to work out with Papelbon and Wainwright.

its a ground ball...trickling... its a fair ball, its by Buckner, rounding third Knight, the Mets will win the ballgame, the Mets win

by DoctorK16 on Feb 9, 2007 11:28 AM EST up reply actions

Korean night

Omar's diversity squad recommended signing CHP to boost sales for Korean night.

Prediction: Kim-chi sales up 150%.

Also, didn't the Korean masher Seung-Yeop Lee from the World Baseball Classic go back to Japan for another year? Omar is thinking ahead!

Pedro offers you his protection.

by pj on Feb 9, 2007 11:11 AM EST reply actions

I put this in Sele category

Maybe Professor Rick can bring us the Dodgers Chan-Ho if not he gets cut/traded. Plus the Mets can get some extra gates when he pitches from the large Korean community in Flushing.

its a ground ball...trickling... its a fair ball, its by Buckner, rounding third Knight, the Mets will win the ballgame, the Mets win

by DoctorK16 on Feb 9, 2007 11:26 AM EST reply actions

Nah...

I would rather see Pelfrey throw all fastballs or Humber or Vargas get the call, than bring in Park. Not that I think Pelfrey can't throw anything else anyhow.

The real problem with signing a guy like Park or Lima is that he WILL get innings, which will result in losses, and all those losses count against your team.

Last season was the first time since forever that the Mets got off to a fast start. I rather enjoyed the change.

by dd on Feb 9, 2007 11:29 AM EST reply actions

Props to blackfish

for scouring the asian dailies for tidbits of Mets-related info.

Watch me paste this pathetic palooka with a powerful paralyzing perfect pachydermous percussion pitch.

by Mr. Met on Feb 9, 2007 11:53 AM EST reply actions

the deal

Per Rotoworld, the actual terms of the contract are for $600K guaranteed with an additional $2.4M in incentives depending on Park's innings pitched. Much, much better terms on which to bring in a guy (just like Sele) and see how much he has left. At that price Park is a useful long reliever and doesn't have to be able to start at all; and the spring-training mix is going to be really interesting.

by anonymous on Feb 9, 2007 1:39 PM EST reply actions

Agreed

At 600k, this really is a no-brainer. If he's awful in ST or May or even mid-season, he can be cut loose easily, his job handed over to whoever's ready to take it. A good signing.

by Alex Nelson on Feb 9, 2007 3:53 PM EST up reply actions

sitting here in my office

late on a Friday night with my wife both working hard and we don't make 600,000 combined. We are both lawyers. If I practiced law the way Chan Ho Park pitches I would be disbarred, but giving him this kind of money is a no-brainer. Sometimes I think that I should stop watching this game. It's really hard to identify with it.

end the madness.stop the war

by elifriedman on Feb 9, 2007 6:21 PM EST reply actions

What you're talking about has nothing to do

with "the game". If you want to stop watching "the business" no one would blame you.

Watch me paste this pathetic palooka with a powerful paralyzing perfect pachydermous percussion pitch.

by Mr. Met on Feb 9, 2007 6:42 PM EST up reply actions

such is life

you would have to multiply my salary by about a factor of 10 to reach Chan Ho's. Capitalist economies like our pay for labor on your ability to generate money for those who are buying the labor, not or our worth as people, or even our performance. Chan Ho happens to be able to generate much more income for the Mets than we do for our employers, even though he isn't that good at his job. Count you're blessings you are walking in to warm house/apt tonight and that a lot more than many can say. You are your wife value can't be measure in dollars. :)

its a ground ball...trickling... its a fair ball, its by Buckner, rounding third Knight, the Mets will win the ballgame, the Mets win

by DoctorK16 on Feb 9, 2007 8:09 PM EST up reply actions

I understand

the economics of baseball and I know we live in a capitalistic society. I'm not even saying Chan Ho Park isn't "worth" 600K, but I think it's a bit much to say thaty kind of pay is a no-brainer. Of course, I will continue to follow major league baseball because it's the only game in town.

end the madness.stop the war

by elifriedman on Feb 9, 2007 10:10 PM EST reply actions

It's easy to forget,

but there are dozens, maybe hundreds of professional players trying fruitlessly to make it for each player that turns out to be even as good as Park is now. And these guys themselves, even the ones who'll never make it further than a few years of A or AA ball, are still better than anyone they played against in high school or college. It's easy to overlook it, but even the worst major leaguer is a truly elite-level talent, superior to the majority of people who are good enough to play baseball professionally. I'd like to see a little more equity in how the dollars were distributed down that food chain -- it's hard to live on a minor-league salary, and that seems more important than another Lear jet for a superstar to me -- but the salary does reflect something real in their ability.

Having said that, it'd take me and about 25 of my closest colleagues a year to make what Chan Ho Park's just been guaranteed, and I think it's every bit as ridiculous as you do. But I'm a hypocrite. If my money were really where my mouth is on this issue I'd just stick to watching college baseball, but I can't help but love the higher level of skill and competition in the majors.

by anonymous on Feb 9, 2007 10:58 PM EST up reply actions

The best always get an outsized paycheck

relative to the the other practitioners (of any discipline) who aren't cream of the crop.

At least in baseball the people at the top of the pyramid are most likely there on merit as opposed to being born into the right family (not always, I know...).

Watch me paste this pathetic palooka with a powerful paralyzing perfect pachydermous percussion pitch.

by Mr. Met on Feb 9, 2007 11:19 PM EST up reply actions

an exception?

It's easy to overlook it, but even the worst major leaguer is a truly elite-level talent, superior to the majority of people who are good enough to play baseball professionally.

Lima-time?

by kazizgr8 on Feb 12, 2007 4:39 PM EST up reply actions