Yankees Sign Chan Ho Park

South Korean-born pitcher Chan-Ho Park has been hanging out with A-Rod and Jeter and the gang in Tampa, Fla.

The New York Yankees announced on February 28 that it had signed Park to a 1-year contract worth $1.2 million with an additional $300,000 in incentives.  The hulking, right-handed Park spent Sunday working out with the Yankees at spring training camp.

According to a New York Yankees press release:

“[Park] became the first-ever Korean-born player to appear in a Major League game on April 8, 1994 vs. Atlanta (w/ Los Angeles-NL) and is the first native of South Korea signed by the Yankees. His 120 career victories are second-most all-time among Asian-born pitchers behind only Japan’s Hideo Nomo (123 wins).”

Park has played for the Dodgers, Padres, Mets and, most recently, the Phillies. He was offered a one -year $3.25 million contract from the Phillies, but turned it down.

“I was deliberating on the Chicago Cubs and the Yankees, but their history and championship contention resulted in me picking the Yankees,” ESPN reports Park as saying.