This season hasn't gone according to plan for Chan Ho Park, who is currently with the Pirates after being designated for assignment by the Yankees, but he told MLB.com's Jenifer Langosch that he's leaning towards playing at least one more season. If he does return, he'd be willing to remain in Pittsburgh if there's mutual interest…
"It's a good team with a good future," Park said. "If I play for this team next year, a .500 or winning record is going to be a big goal for this team. I want to be a part of that and have that. We have so much talent here."
GM Neal Huntington left the door open for a reunion, but the two sides haven't talked about anything definitive yet. The club likes the way he has mentored the young pitchers on the staff.
Park indicated that a guaranteed contract would certainly tilt the scales towards a return. Money might not be of much importance though; not only has CHoP banked over $85M in his career, he's also married to the daughter of the 76th wealthiest man in Japan.
The 37-year-old righty has pitched to a 4.66 ERA in 63.2 innings this season, but he's been much better since moving to Pittsburgh: 28.1 IP, 3.49 ERA, 7.3 K/9, 2.2 BB/9. He picked up his 124th career win just last night, setting the record for the most ever by an Asian-born pitcher in MLB.
I hear he’ll demand a year’s supply if pepto bismol in his next contract.
I hope he returns to the Pirates. The Pirates have a pretty solid bullpen if he pitches well.
Wtf does his wife’s family wealth has anything to do with what he makes next year?
Not very appropriate.
I think he just means that even if he retires this year he can still be a house husband and live off of his wife’s reflected wealth. It’s what I would do if I were him. Just sit at home, play MLB 2010 on PS3 and eat bonbons.
I thought it was a fun fact
Classy guy, great with fans and was a good pitcher in his prime. Still is effective just not in the AL. Too bad things didn’t work out in NY, man if he stayed in Phili as a BP he woulda been uber closer to a WS ring
should have stayed in philly he was great
I wonder what happened to him this year. Last year on the Phils he was more than servicable. I was kind of bummed out we didn’t resign him, but I guess he really lost it if hes on the Pirates now.
I think Chan Ho Park can play beyond 2011. He finished well for the Pirates this year, and his overall numbers from 2010 weren’t that bad.
He isn’t that old, he turned 37 in June.
It seems as if he has accepted that he is most effective as a reliever. He is still willing to learn, having learned a cutter from Mariano Rivera.
Clearly, I’m a fan, and I hope he pitches into his 40’s.