Chan Ho Park accepted a one-year deal from New York’s other baseball team: the Mets. Park will compete for the No. 5 spot in the club’s starting rotation and his contract will give him a base salary of $600,000, with a chance at earning an additional $2.4 million in performance-based incentives. It’s a far cry from five years ago when Park was inked to a five-year contract with the Texas Rangers worth $65 million.

Although Gongju’s favorite son is no longer the pitcher he once was (7-7, 4.81 ERA in 136-2/3 innings with San Diego last season), the Padres had hoped to re-sign him while Cincinnati, Houston, San Francisco and Washington were also reportedly inquiring about his services. Park, however, decided on the Mets, who were one win away from advancing to the World Series in 2006.

“Money doesn’t matter,” he said. “There were several teams that offered better terms, but as the better team wanted me, I decided to go to New York.”

He also cited the fact that the Big Apple has a sizable Korean population.

“When I was [playing for] Los Angeles, many South Korean fans [in New York] rooted for me and that made me pitch well,” said the 33-year-old. “When the Mets offered me [a contract], I accepted it with pleasure because I believe I can have a good season thanks to their cheering.”

The move wasn’t the only change for Park during the offseason. In January, he severed ties with agent Scott Boras and selected Jeff Boris of the Beverly Hills Sports Council, who reps Barry Bonds and Albert Pujols, to be his new Jerry Maguire.