Rangers sign Chan Ho Park

ARLINGTON, Texas, Dec. 22 (UPI) -- Righthander Chan Ho Park, the prized pitcher in the free agent class of 2001, has agreed to terms with the Texas Rangers.

The Rangers scheduled an evening news conference Saturday to introduce Park. The deal reportedly is worth $70 million over five years.

Texas had the inside track on Park since his agent is Scott Boras, who landed a record-breaking 10-year, $252 million contract for shortstop Alex Rodriguez from Rangers owner Tom Hicks last year.

Boras also represents Texas players Kenny Rogers, Todd Van Poppel and Carlos Pena, as well as pitcher Mark Teixeria, the Rangers' 2001 first-round draft pick.

Park, 28, provides a much-needed ace for a pitching staff that was the worst in baseball last season.

The Korean righthander was 15-11 with a 3.50 ERA for the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2001, leading the team in wins, starts (35), innings pitched (234), strikeouts (218) and opponents' batting average (.216).

Park played his first full major league season with the Dodgers in 1996 and has a lifetime record of 80-54 with nine complete games and two shutouts. His best season came was 2000, when he went 18-10 with a 3.27 ERA.

To clear some payroll for Park, the Rangers on Thursday opted not to offer a contract to Rick Helling, their Opening Day starter in 2001 who went 12-11 with a 5.17 ERA in 34 starts. Helling was 20-7 in 1998.

With a league-worst 5.71 ERA last season, new Rangers general manager John Hart has overhauled the staff, discarding Helling, trading lefthander Darren Oliver and signing Dave Burba.

Hart also made major changes to the bullpen, adding Van Poppel, John Rocker and Jay Powell.