South Korean pitcher Park Chan-ho finally officially signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers Thursday, agreeing to a minor league contract, the team announced.
With the deal that had stalled now completed, the 34-year-old Park rejoins the Los Angeles Dodgers, with whom he began his career in 1994. He returns to the organization for the first time since he left the team eight years ago to sign a lucrative $65 million contract with the Texas Rangers.
The right-hander and the Los Angeles Dodgers reached an agreement a month ago. But because of Park's commitment to Korea's national baseball team in the final qualifying round for the Beijing Olympics in Taiwan, his rejoining Los Angeles was delayed and even looked improbable.
In addition, his strong performances in Taiwan, which had some scouts saying he could still be effective with some low-level teams in the U.S. Major Leagues, hinted the 113-game winner might join another team in the league.
But Park put his former team, with which he played eight years in his prime and claimed 80 wins, above any other option.
``I was told to seek other teams from Major League scouts in Taiwan, but my priority is on the Los Angeles Dodgers,'' Park said on his arrival from the qualifying round.
He will compete as a non-roster invitee at the Los Angeles Dodgers' spring camp in Florida in February, hoping to return to the big leagues where he threw in only one game last season with the New York Mets. He gave up seven runs on six hits over four innings in that outing and then was released.
After leaving the Mets, he joined the Round Rock Express, a Houston Astros minor league affiliate, but never moved up to the big leagues.
One shining light for the 14-year veteran is that the Los Angeles Dodgers, who ranked fourth in the National League West division this year, have had success helping older pitchers rejuvenate their careers.
As the team's Web site noted, Giovanni Carrara, Wilson Alvarez, Tom Martin, Kelly Wunsch, Jose Lima, Takashi Saito, Aaron Sele and Rudy Seanez were all pitchers who appeared to be past their primes before finding success with the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Los Angeles' sloppy rotation gives Park a chance to provide a glimpse of his remaining fuel as well. Brad Penny, Derek Lowe and Chad Billingsley are locks to make the club, but Jason Schmidt and Esteban Loaiza are uncertain to secure remaining roster spots because of injuries.
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