Article: Twins With Winning Bid On Korean Slugger

[tobi0040]

 

Alright....  Plouffe, Nolasco and Polanco to the Padres for James Shields and Derek Norris.  Go!

 

Padre Owner to GM: Tell me about this Nolasco fella.   

 

GM:  Well, he is owed $25M over two years and has posted an ERA in the mid 5's the last few years.  He has also missed a considerable amount of time to injury the last two years.  But.....

 

Padre Owner: Get out of my office.

[nicksaviking]

 

Has this "what position is he going to play" question been answered yet? He's a first baseman, right?

 

That's the assumption, but he's also listed as 6'1" and 194 lbs, so at least these blind measurements don't preclude him from playing any particular position.  Heck, he's smaller than Troy Tulowitzki, maybe they can stick him at SS.

[Guest]

So disappointed that Parker didn't ask Terry Ryan about their interest in Park during his interview for the Offseason Handbook!

 

If he had, I'm certain TR would have told Parker that the Twins made a significant bid and, in follow up, would have explained what the Twins would do roster-wise if their bid was successful.

 

Missed opportunity for a scoop there, Parker!

[Gernzy]

Article on Twins website confirms we won the bid.

[TNTwinsFan]

Now go sign Wieters. Heck of a line up:

 

Hicks CF

Dozier 2B

Mauer 1B

Sano LF

Park DH

Wieters C

Rosario RF

Plouffe 3B

Escobar SS

 

Bench: Vargas, Santana, Suzuki, Robinson/Arcia/Kepler

 

Buxton will likely start in AAA as will Kepler I'd bet. If Robinson is resigned he'll be on the bench as a late inning defensive replacement. Frankly, I'd rather see a guy like Kepler who can play all 3 OF spots and 1B be on the roster, but you want him playing every day. I really think the Twins have to trade Plouffe now. You bring either Buxton or Kepler up (whomever is most ready) and that slides Sano to 3B and Hicks to LF. Lineup looks like this then:

 

Buxton CF

Hicks LF

Mauer 1B

Sano 3B

Park DH

Wieters C

Dozier 2B

Rosario RF

Escobar SS

[gunnarthor]

I have a friend from law school who is now an international scout for the Royals.  He's based in Asia so I asked his thoughts on Park.  

 

"He mashes. I really liked him but he wasn't a fit for us. He will strike out a ton, but I'll be very surprised if he doesn't hit 25 hrs. Saw him hit one out dead center in mokdong stadium over a fifty foot high fence. Must have gone at least 500 ft. Reminds me of magglio ordonez, but his swing is a bit longer. Hits most of his bombs to opposite field. Decent fielder. Strong as an ox. He will have an adjustment period and will need to keep his confidence up, but you should be happy."

 

 

[Mike Sixel]

KLAW had him as the number 29 FA in his insider article, here is part of that:

 

.......

 

Of course, Eric Thames and Yamaico Navarro each hit 48 homers there this year, so those numbers come with some caveats. Nevertheless, scouts seem to agree that Park's power will translate, though perhaps not his batting average, as he's strong but without great bat speed; he led the KBO in strikeouts by a wide margin. .....

 

I think he's a boom-or-bust free agent. Either you're getting an above-average regular at first base who hits 30 bombs with a decent OBP, or you're getting a Quad-A player who doesn't make enough contact to get to the power.

[Linus]

Like everyone else I'm surprised. I'm not sure I like it because this maybe spells the end of Vargas / Arcia. If this guy gets a decent contract he is going to play and I am skeptical of making the jump from KBO to the big leagues.

[SirLoin]

 

Padre Owner to GM: Tell me about this Nolasco fella.   

 

GM:  Well, he is owed $25M over two years and has posted an ERA in the mid 5's the last few years.  He has also missed a considerable amount of time to injury the last two years.  But.....

 

Padre Owner: Get out of my office.

But....But....He's had success in the National League....  

[Shane Wahl]

Hell yes! Wonderful. Great replacement+ for Plouffe.

[big dog]

 

 

Park hitting 4 HR's in a game.

Well, THOSE were hit.  Wow.

[Vanimal46]

The Twins certainly needed some power in the lineup, let's hope we found our DH for the next 3-4 years however long the contract is. 

[jlanky]

With all the holes to fill on this team, we post a 1B/DH?

 

This move would have made a lot more sense if we were talking about how this forces the trade of a 69R/10HR/66RBI aging, mediocre 1B rather than a coming of age 74R/22HR/86RBI solid defensive 3B.  I am not re-opening the "Mauer should be traded" argument.  I know that will never happen and I will always be a fan.  The point is, this move doesn't make sense given the current roster makeup.  Teams will now line up and gladly take Plouffe and Vargas off our hands for a much reduced price because we really have not option but to trade them.

[Monkeypaws]

I was hoping he was a lefty - oh well.

 

Should be interesting.

[tobi0040]

 

But....But....He's had success in the National League....  

 

I am guessing this is some sarcasm.  His ERA+ was under 100 when we signed him.  I think it was like 91 and most of that was in the NL

[Hambino the Great]

Byung-ho Park says "anneyeonghi gaseyo Trevor."

[Linus]

Well, THOSE were hit. Wow.

That is some lousy pitching - batting practice fastballs.

[ThejacKmp]

 

The other thing this move does is block some of our young players. If he signs a 4 year contract what happens to Vargas? I know AB walker can play OF, but with Sano moving to the outfield, with Rosario, Hicks and buxton, where does everyone fit in? I expect a trade for a starter.

 

I really doubt that Sano moves to the OF for real. It behooves the Twins to be able to tell Plouffe trade partners that they're fine with Sano in the OF so they're not dealing from a position of weakness but its hard to see how they could make it work.  Sano is so big for the OF, has no experience there and already had issues staying healthy at 3B.

If they do keep Plouffe, Mauer in left makes more sense than anything else.  But no way they can keep Plouffe.  Sano or Mauer to the OF blocks Buxton/Kepler/Rosario/Hicks by the end of next season, which is already one too many guys for OF spots.

Nice problem to have.  Hopefully we can flip Plouffe for something good!


 

[gunnarthor]

 

With all the holes to fill on this team, we post a 1B/DH?

 

 

This isn't the only move the team will make and it's probably not even their biggest.  They don't have to move Plouffe - they could go with a Sano in RF, Park at DH if they wanted.  What this move does do is give the Twins a (potentially) big middle of the order bat to go with Sano.  It's not clear how Park will translate to MLB but his upside is pretty darn exciting, if he reaches it.  

[Linus]

The Twins certainly needed some power in the lineup, let's hope we found our DH for the next 3-4 years however long the contract is.

I hope the contract is very reasonable or this has potential to be a Nolasco type situation.

[tobi0040]

 

KLAW had him as the number 29 FA in his insider article, here is part of that:

 

.......

 

Of course, Eric Thames and Yamaico Navarro each hit 48 homers there this year, so those numbers come with some caveats. Nevertheless, scouts seem to agree that Park's power will translate, though perhaps not his batting average, as he's strong but without great bat speed; he led the KBO in strikeouts by a wide margin. .....

 

I think he's a boom-or-bust free agent. Either you're getting an above-average regular at first base who hits 30 bombs with a decent OBP, or you're getting a Quad-A player who doesn't make enough contact to get to the power.

 

This year.

 

Thames

595 PA.  .381 Avg.  47 HR.  .497 OBP.  .790 Slugging.

 

Park

547 PA.  .351 Avg   47 HR.  .442 OBP.  .727 Slugging.

[Vanimal46]

 

I hope the contract is very reasonable or this has potential to be a Nolasco type situation.

 

Agreed. The shorter the contract the better IMO. If he proves his worth after 1-2 years, I wouldn't mind paying a premium again to retain him for another 1-2 years.

[Boom Boom]

Is he a clubhouse leader?

 

Does he have a Minnesota connection?

 

Does this mean we won't sign Morneau?

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

I have a friend from law school who is now an international scout for the Royals.  He's based in Asia so I asked his thoughts on Park.  

 

"He mashes. I really liked him but he wasn't a fit for us. He will strike out a ton, but I'll be very surprised if he doesn't hit 25 hrs. Saw him hit one out dead center in mokdong stadium over a fifty foot high fence. Must have gone at least 500 ft. Reminds me of magglio ordonez, but his swing is a bit longer. Hits most of his bombs to opposite field. Decent fielder. Strong as an ox. He will have an adjustment period and will need to keep his confidence up, but you should be happy."

Great first hand information, gunnarthor.

 

I am trying to convince myself that this guy fits on our team. The strikeouts seem concerning, and I'm hoping Park's long swing/opposite field HRs in Korea will translate to homers in MLB.

[dbminn]

The Twins have no reason to trade Plouffe at bargain prices. First, there is no guarantee that Park will be able to start in his first year. Second, Sano or Plouffe may end up in the outfield the first part of the year (not my preference but possible). Third, someone could get injured early on. 

 

Still, I think the Twins are setting up for a big multi-player trade, even multiple teams. They have a lot of player combinations to offer.

 

 

[DaveW]

Right Handed bat that may be a AAAA player? Couldn't we have just kept Colabello instead?

 

The KBO is weak and this dude lead the league in strike outs, color me unimpressed currently.

[DaveW]

 

 

The Twins have no reason to trade Plouffe at bargain prices. First, there is no guarantee that Park will be able to start in his first year. Second, Sano or Plouffe may end up in the outfield the first part of the year (not my preference but possible). Third, someone could get injured early on. 

 

Still, I think the Twins are setting up for a big multi-player trade, even multiple teams. They have a lot of player combinations to offer.

Why wouldn't he start? He is 27 years old a first baseman and a power hitter, signing him then sending him to the minors doesn't make any sense. I doubt he is going to come from Korea to go play some games in Rochester...

[sane]

 

Does he have a Minnesota connection?
 

He likes Lutefisk egg rolls.

[dbminn]

 

Why wouldn't he start? He is 27 years old a first baseman and a power hitter, signing him then sending him to the minors doesn't make any sense. I doubt he is going to come from Korea to go play some games in Rochester...

 

I didn't say he'd be sent to Rochester. Just might not begin the year as a starter. Kang didn't start for the Pirates for the first half last year. That does make sense. He's moving from a completely different culture for both baseball and life. Might take some adjustment.

 

You also have to keep in mind the theme of my comment: You don't have to trade Plouffe at bargain prices. And the conclusion: I think the Twins are going to make a bigger, multiplayer trade. But the Twins have to be willing to make things work rather than dumping a 3WAR player who's under control.

 

[kab21]

It will be interesting to see which direction Ryan goes in after this.  Does he try to make Plouffe/Sano/Park fit on the roster?  Or does this lead to a Plouffe trade?  I am not convinced that the latter has to happen.

 

There really aren't too many holes on this team.  C and RP is about it unless you were going after an ace.  There is plenty of time to address those still.

 

I don't think Lucroy or Wieters are on the radar but a Plouffe/Norris trade might be.  Another angle would be to keep Plouffe and to trade Rosario or Kepler (along with X and Y) for Lucroy.  If Sano is playing OF then they might as well make use of those extra OF'ers.  I heart Kepler though.  

 

Overall I like the move.  It is a case of adding talent that doesn't cost anything more than money.  And the money is reasonable.  I also like the prospect of having Dozier/Plouffe/Sano/Park and possibly another 20+ HR in the lineup.  These aren't the Twins of the last decade.