The Phillies announced on Tuesday that Chan Ho Park will be their fifth starter when the season begins this week.
The Phils signed the former All-Star to a one-year $2.5 million deal back in December with the promise they would give him a shot to earn a spot in the rotation.
Park started just five of his 54 appearances for the Dodgers last year, but he was primarily a starter most of his career.
He is perhaps best known for giving up a home run to Cal Ripken, Jr. in the 2001 all-star game, or for screwing the Rangers by completely sucking for four seasons after they signed him to a five-year $65 million deal in January 2002.
Park beat out J.A. Happ, and theoretically Kyle Kendrick and Carlos Carrasco for the job.
To be honest, I'm not particularly thrilled with this move.
Aside from the general bad vibes and unshakable visions of the inevitable trainwreck Park is about to become, Happ just has a much greater upside.
Happ was solid in a few spot starts last season, and he also pitched well this spring. He'd have given the Phils a third left-handed starter.
Plus, Happ has no experience in the bullpen, which is where he will likely be if he makes the team at all. When the Phils traded for Jack Taschner last week, it gave them another left-handed arm in the bullpen, and should have allowed them to stick with Park in a role he pitched decently in last season.
So the Phils head into the season with a rotation of Hamels, Myers, Moyer, Blanton and Park, except not in that order because of Hamels' tender elbow.
That's a solid group, but I think it could be better. I don't think Chan Ho is going to make it through the season.
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