TAMPA — Chan Ho Park’s arrival yesterday led to the dismissal of Edwar Ramirez from the Yankees’ bullpen and makes it almost impossible for Sergio Mitre, Boone Logan and Jonathan Albaladejo to stick if injuries don’t surface.
While there is an entire exhibition season to play before manager Joe Girardi fills out a seven-man bullpen, the 36-year-old Park fills out the pen because Girardi is going to carry a dozen hurlers.
“You only have so many spots and the great thing is that we have a lot of good arms and a lot of options,” Girardi said following a workout at George M. Steinbrenner Field. “There is a lot of competition so you have to compete at a high level.”
Let’s assume Phil Hughes is the fifth starter. Mariano Rivera, Joba Chamberlain, Damaso Marte, Alfredo Aceves, David Robertson and Park are locks. Chad Gaudin, who can spot start, is in good position. That leaves Mitre, Logan and Albaladejo on the outside.
“This clearly gives us a deeper pen,” general manager Brian Cashman said of signing Park, who has successfully re-invented himself as a reliever and impressed the Yankees in last year’s World Series against the Phillies.
Park, whose fastball last year was clocked at 96 mph, is likely a one-inning guy. And as the Dodgers learned, it’s best to stay away from using him back to back.
Ramirez was designated for assignment to make room for Park on the 40-man roster. Gaudin, whose $2.95 million, one-year deal isn’t guaranteed, is on the fringe of the battle for the fifth spot with Mitre ($850,000 non-guaranteed) and Aceves.
Mitre and Gaudin are out of options; Albaladejo and Logan have options.
Logan, who was acquired from the Braves with Javier Vazquez for Melky Cabrera, had an outside chance to be the second lefty in the bullpen, but Park’s arrival and Robertson’s ability to handle lefties in limited chances a year ago, don’t bode well for Logan.
“We had one [lefty] all year last year for the most part,” Girardi said. “David Robertson has had success against left-handers and Ace, if he is not a starter, has had success against left-handers. Joba has had success and Gaudin has the change-up. There are different guys you can use in that role if you don’t have a second lefty.”
Robertson and Aceves were better against lefties than Logan last year. Robertson limited them to a .189 (14-for-174) average and Aceves held them to a .212 (32-for-151) mark. Lefties hit .231 (9-for-39) against Logan, who worked just 17 1/3 overall innings and struggled with command (nine walks and 10 strikeouts).
As for Park, he said he was throwing to hitters in South Korea before and after he signed a one-year deal worth $1.2 million ($300,000 incentives) with the Yankees. Girardi, however, is viewing Park as being “10 to 12 days behind the other guys,” but said he expects Park to be ready by opening day.
“I think our bullpen is a strength,” Cashman said. “When Chan Ho Park was still on the [free agent] board this late and the ability to get him at $1.2 million, I thought that there was real value there. He makes us deeper.”
Park went 3-3 with a 4.43 ERA in 45 games last year for the Phillies and didn’t allow a run in 3 1/3 World Series innings.
“It’s an honor to be with the Yankees,” said Park, who threw off flat ground and will throw a bullpen session today. “It wasn’t an easy decision. A lot of teams [asked]. I had fun last year.”