Park, whom Brad Lidge called the "MVP of our bullpen" in 2009, expected to remain with the Phillies, and was seeking a raise from the $2.5 million he made last season commensurate with his stellar performance. His agent, Jeff Borris, negotiated with the Phils through mid-December, when general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. publicly declared the discussions dead. Philadelphia then replaced Park with veterans Danys Baez and Jose Contreras. Park agreed last week to a one-year, $1.2 million deal with the New York Yankees, and reported to spring training yesterday.
Discussing an off-season that he called "frustrating," Park was surprised to be wearing a different uniform.
Asked why negotiations with the Phillies failed, Park said: "Too late. Too late. Too late. It didn't work well in the beginning, and later on, too late. . . . They were talking, and it didn't work. Trying to get a deal, and it didn't work out. And then later on they just gave up, and I lost."
One potential reason for the Phils' lack of aggressiveness in bidding for Park was manager Charlie Manuel's view that the righthander was not always willing to pitch through minor injuries. In complimenting Baez and Contreras last month as pitchers who would never refuse to take the ball, Manuel was likely offering tacit criticism of Park.
"I was disappointed in what he said," Park said. "That's what he thinks, but I don't think it has any meaning. He still is my favorite manager. I didn't talk to him, and I didn't believe it" when he first heard about the comments.
"But who cares? He's still my favorite manager. The whole team; they're the best. That's why it's so difficult to leave. The fans, especially the fans. They're the best."
