The Phillies made another small move today, hopefully to boost their bullpen and NOT boost their rotation, by signing Chan Ho Park to a 1-year, $2.5 million with performance clauses that could bring the deal up to $5 million.
Park pitched 95.1 inning for the Dodgers last year, confusing many opponents fans when he came in the game as they wondered “wait…Chan Ho Park is still in the majors?” And then confusing them even more when he unleashed 95 mph+ heat that seemed to come out of nowhere.
Park is a decent addition (3.40 ERA in those 95 innings), as long as they plan on using him in the Rudy Seanez/Clay Condrey long relief role. However, reports are that the Phillies would like to give him a shot in the rotation, where he hasn’t been successful since 2001. He did pitch well in 5 starts last year for the Dodgers, going 1-0 with a 2.16 ERA, but I can’t imagine he’s going to be successful in a 25-30 start role. If they use him in spot starts, that’s fine, but if they really think that going into 2009 with Chan Ho Park as their 5th starter is a good thing, they are delusional.
I was holding out hope that the Phillies would still make a play for Derek Lowe, but if they really believe that Park is going to start, and that they will re-sign Moyer, they might be fine going into Spring Training with Hamels, Myers, Blanton, Moyer, Park, Happ, Kendrick and Carrasco. Moyer continuing to pitch above expectations would be the key to that rotation, but I’d feel a lot better if they could plant Lowe in at the #2 spot.
Here’s a look at the current, probable 25-man roster
Line-up
- Jimmy Rollins, SS
- Shane Victorino, CF
- Chase Utley, 2B (possibly replaced by Jason Donald on opening day)
- Ryan Howard, 1B
- Raul Ibanez, LF
- Jayson Werth, RF
- Pedro Feliz, 3B
- Carlos Ruiz, C
Starting Rotation
- Cole Hamels, SP
- Brett Myers, SP
- Joe Blanton, SP
- J.A. Happ, SP
- TBD
Bullpen
- Brad Lidge, CL
- Ryan Madson, RHP
- J.C. Romero, LHP
- Scott Eyre, LHP
- Chan Ho Park, RHP
- Clay Condrey, RHP
- Chad Durbin, RHP
Bench
- Chris Coste, C (or Lou Marson, or Ronny Paulino)
- Eric Bruntlett, UTIL
- Greg Dobbs, UTIL
- Geoff Jenkins, OF
- Matt Stairs, OF
{ 17 comments… read them below or add one }
i’ve pretty much given up on Lowe, considering the chaos that is the free agent market. it’ll cost ya. this is a VERY gillicky move. lets hope it works.
Park: Experienced. Wins more than he loses. Can’t hurt to give him a long look. Another arms treaty.
Stairs and Jenkins on roster for ‘09 is redundant. Gotta choose one of the two and somehow acquire a righthanded outfield bat.
looks like Moyer might sign today as well…. (from Phillies.com)
That’s good news. My preference would be that this not the end of addressing our needs for the rotation but I get the feeling it is. Anybody else feel the same way?
I’m talking about Moyer, btw, not Park.
good news on Moyer. This years pitching staff looks to be deeper than last years which is good news for us. Hopefully we can stay healthy like last year. I like Park coming out of the bulpen a lot especially if he can hit 95 mph.
A side note: with Ibanez now in LF the Phillies are now counting on Werth more than ever. Werth has been great the last two years and I like him. But I’m worried that he is the only RH bat with power in our lineup. I still get the feeling that he can wear down at times from being an everyday player. It’s so easy to forget that last year was the first time he played everyday. JJG is right on point. The Phils need to pick Jenkins or Stairs and find out a way to get another RH bat in the outfield and as a pinch hitter.
Yeah I also have the feeling that if Moyer is inked, a huge sigh of relief will come from the offices at CBP. Then all our hopes and dreams of upgrading our starting rotation with a new #2 will be over. Hopefully they are working on things that are so grand we cannot even imagine them at this point. Back to reality, this is the Phillies and that is probably not gonna happen. I will be glad to see Moyer back on the squad but curious to see if they sign him, what did it cost? If in fact he did sign somewhere in the middle of the 2 figures ($14mil & $18mil) can we still afford Lowe if we spent every last penny to acquire him?
I would LOVE to get Jenkins off to another club for a RH bat. But what value (if any) do either of those guys have in the market right now? Seems as though the market is flooded with so-so types just like them both, most of which can play everyday. Are there any buyers out there that would want Jenkins/Stairs?
bball-
I think that Werth or Victorino is going to end up in the 5-hole and it’s going to be very important to our season that they increase their run production.
j dubbz-
i can’t see us signing lowe if we get the Moyer deal done. They seem to have promised Park a shot at the rotation, and if we sign both, there will be no open spot. That might give you a clue to their thinking.
I feel like we could trade Jenkins to someone. He is better than he showed last year.
Jenkins: 8th player in baseball history to whiff 6 times in a game. Has a nearly 3 to 1 strikeout-to-walk ratio, career! Stairs: older but wiser in the box, and will go deep as often; cheaper too. Neither are mistaken for Johnny Callison in right field or on basepaths. Career on-base & slugging percentages – a wash. If spot is strictly PH, I’d go with Stairs.
jjg: good point
pete: jenkins will have a better year for us in 09 but after that 08 hiccup, his trade value will be infinitessimal just like Brad Penny (former ace of Dodgers) is seemingly worthless and everyone is swooning over Lowe.
well after all this mediocre signings, they had better re-sign all the other players meen. i dont wanna see Werth, Victorino, Howard, Madson or even Dobbs walking. if we are not gonna break the bank for free agents, lets at least keep the guys we have.
jkay-
Looks like Moyer is a done deal. 2 years with the details yet to be disclosed.
I’m with you guys about keeping Stairs over Jenkins. I think Jenkins won’t bring much in return but if we get someone to take his salary off our hands that extra cash could be better used at the trade deadline or even this offseason. I believe he’s owed almost 7 mil. I think Stairs is only making 1 mil. I’m sure that we could get a RH bat with some of that money. Maybe they could sign Willy Taveras now that he’s been non-tendered. Then trade Jenkins for a long shot prospect to dump his salary.
speaking on non-tendered players. If we can move Jenkins or Stairs, I would try to sign Ty Wigginton. Hit .285 with 23 HR last year and can play 3B or OF.
I would also take a flyer on Daniel Cabrera and see if one our coaches can’t fix his delivery.
With the Park signing, maybe adding Happ to Jenkins can now get us a Derosa type right handed bat for this year.