Chan Ho Park officially joined the Phillies yesterday, but additions to the organization did not stop there.
Looking for infield depth as Chase Utley and Pedro Feliz recover from off-season surgeries, the Phils signed veteran infielder Marcus Giles to a minor-league contract. Giles, who turns 31 in May, will get a look in spring training. The former Atlanta second baseman did not play last season after being released by Colorado in spring training.
Park, who agreed on a major-league deal worth $2.5 million last month, was in Philadelphia yesterday. He passed a physical exam, then made it clear that he's ready to compete for the No. 5 spot in the team's starting pitching rotation.
"My goal is to be a starter,'' Park said. "Hopefully I can make it.''
Park, 35, is so intent on being a starter that he may not pitch for his native Korea in the World Baseball Classic in March. As much as he'd like to, he wonders if it might be better to concentrate on making a good showing for his new team.
After appearing in just one big-league game in 2007, Park, a career starter, enjoyed a rebirth while pitching mostly in relief for the Los Angeles Dodgers last season. Park pitched in 49 games out of the bullpen and recorded a 3.84 ERA. Scouts say his fastball jumped in velocity - he was clocked as high as 97 m.p.h. - when he pitched in relief. But it was the five starts he made - he was 1-0 with a 2.16 ERA - for the Dodgers that left him thirsting for more.
Five teams expressed interest in Park, but the Phillies were the only one that offered a chance to compete for a starting job.
"It's more fun to be a starter,'' Park said. "Every five days, people in Korea plan on watching the game. That's a big part of the game at this point of my career."
Park, 117-92 in a career that began as a 21-year-old in 1994, joins a crowded cast of candidates for the fifth starter's job. J.A. Happ and Kyle Kendrick are the lead candidates, but Adam Eaton, Carlos Carrasco and Drew Carpenter will all get looks. It's possible that Park could end up in the bullpen.
"Let's think about that later," he said with a laugh.
Park's ability to work in relief was attractive to the Phillies, who were seeking someone who could pitch multiple innings out of the bullpen. The Phils' need for bullpen depth has risen with the suspension of J.C. Romero, who will miss the first 50 games of the season after testing positive for a banned substance.
Contact staff writer Jim Salisbury at 215-854-4983 or jsalisbury@phillynews.com.
