If you can’t beat ’em, join ’em, says Chan Ho Park. The former Phillies reliever signed a one-year, $1.2 million contract with the New York Yankees today, according to Dave Murphy of the Daily News. There are also $300,000 worth of incentives to be had in the deal.
To me, this seems like a steal by the Yankees. And, although Jose Contreras is wowing some people with his arm early in the spring, I think Park is still the better option presently. Both Park and Contreras signed for similar money, so did something happen behind the scenes that led the Phillies away from Park, or vice versa? At a full million dollars less than last season, Park would have been seen as a steal had the Phils locked him up. Now, he’s just been stolen by the former champs and the richest franchise in baseball.
I think the question here is, who would you rather have had for ’10: Chan Ho Park or Jose Contreras?