Article: Twins With Winning Bid On Korean Slugger

[Willihammer]

Kepler and Walker have options and they aren't ready anyway. And while DH isn't the most pressing need, assets are fungible. This signing (knock on wood) will grow the Twins talent pool, that is a good thing.

 

Even if no trade is made this winter, Its hard to envision a casualty to this except Arcia and that is assuming a. none of Mauer/Plouffe/Sano/Park gets hurt in the spring, and b. someone actually claims Arcia if he's exposed to waivers which would be dependent on his winter/spring performance and lingering health questions.

 

History shows us that gambles on players in nascent markets can pay off huge. Personally I can't think of a better use of the FA budget than this and I don't understand any reaction except huge kudos to the Twins for taking a smart gamble on growing their talent base.

[Mike Sixel]

100% certain someone claims Arcia in my mind. 100%.

[SwainZag]

 

100% certain someone claims Arcia in my mind. 100%.

 

I would agree.  He's only 24, has shown big league success and is left handed.  I still think he is on the ML roster on Opening Day, even with Park signing.  

[Willihammer]

Yeah they could option Rosario if they really didn't want to lose Arcia. Or roll with Arcia on the bench in a part time / PH role. Signing Park on its own would not necessarily push anyone out of the picture, it would only adds depth and talent.

[gopherman23]

Park is playing for South Korea in the WBSC Premier 12 tournament that is going on right now. SK played Japan on Sunday and Park went 2-4 with a double and a strike out. The most encoraging news is that his double was off of Shohei Otani, who may be the next big thing out of Japan. Otani's fastball can reach 101 mph. Small sample size, but encouraging nonetheless.

[laloesch]

Assuming Park moves into the lineup immediately how does that effect the order?  Does he bat cleanup?

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

 

Sano is NOT going to be a poor defender at 3B. His arm is an A+. He's got good hands. Plouffe was garbage at 3B at first, but he came around. No reason not to give Sano the same chance.

 

Poor is a bit over the top, I don't think Sano will be "good" at 3rd or even "average" but I think he can end up being a tick below average which is perfectly fine.

I will accept "tick below" average at third, as long as his bat plays.

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

 

Assuming Park moves into the lineup immediately how does that effect the order?  Does he bat cleanup?

I actually think he will need significant time at Rochester.

 

I base that on absolutely nothing except his home run highlight video on YouTube, and the Google measurement conversation page*. The vast majority of his home runs came on pitches in the 132km to 142km range. Browsing through, the hardest pitch I saw was 149km (92.5 mph), followed by a 146km and a couple 145km. Lots of off speed pitches taken deep, however, which is nice.

 

I'm hoping he will become a decent deep threat eventually, about the time Mauer and Plouffe are wrapping it up. If the plan is actually to acclimate Park in the minors a bit, then this move makes a little more sense and it's very much in line with how the Twins operate, bringing guys along slowly.

 

*h/t to Platoon for the idea

 

I learned several things by watching the Park HR video. 99 meters is 324' and 118 meters is 379'. Those were numbers I saw on the fence down the LF line and in CF. those are not big parks. Dozier would love that LF measurement. The other thing I picked up was how to yell "touch em all Park" in Korean!

 

[laloesch]

 

I actually think he will need significant time at Rochester.

 

I base that on absolutely nothing except his home run highlight video on YouTube, and the Google measurement conversation page*. The vast majority of his home runs came on pitches in the 132km to 142km range. Browsing through, the hardest pitch I saw was 149km (92.5 mph), followed by a 146km and a couple 145km. Lots of off speed pitches taken deep, however, which is nice.

 

I'm hoping he will become a decent deep threat eventually, about the time Mauer and Plouffe are wrapping it up. If the plan is actually to acclimate Park in the minors a bit, then this move makes a little more sense and it's very much in line with how the Twins operate, bringing guys along slowly.

 

*h/t to Platoon for the idea

 

 

Just seems like a ton of money for a guy who hasn't even proven he can hit MLB pitching at any level.  

 

I don't know.  Unless the Twins plan on unloading salaries soon this team will be close to tapped out even before they start looking at catchers and relievers.  Seems like huge risk, high bust potential considering the KBO is at best equivalent to AA ball.

[Mike Sixel]

It's not that much money compared to Cubans, or Japanese. It's nothing compared to what you'd be saying about 18 year old draftees if they were FAs. The only part that makes me wonder is the age.....in terms of the price.

[Bob Sacamento]

 

I actually think he will need significant time at Rochester.

 

I base that on absolutely nothing except his home run highlight video on YouTube, and the Google measurement conversation page*. The vast majority of his home runs came on pitches in the 132km to 142km range. Browsing through, the hardest pitch I saw was 149km (92.5 mph), followed by a 146km and a couple 145km. Lots of off speed pitches taken deep, however, which is nice.

 

In general, KBO, NPB, and Asian league pitchers usually throw more offspeed stuff than the MLBers do; what we call in the States "junkballers".

[Bob Sacamento]

Sano's bat is special, it'll play anywhere on the diamond; now where he can play at is a different story. Having seen him and Kris Bryant play 3B in the FSL two years ago, I put them in the same category.  Defensively speaking 3B is their best position that they've proven they can play on a daily basis.  Are they bad defenders? No.  Are they going to win a gold glove there? Highly unlikely.  But what they can do is play league average to a tick below at the hot corner for at least the next three years.  Bryant is more athletic and can run better, making him a spot starter in the corner OF a little easier than the bigger bodied Sano.  Best thing for the Twins and Sano is to keep Miggy at 3B/DH and work everything else around it.  Worst case, I guess if Kyle Schwarber, Adam Dunn and Todd Hundley can play LF so can Sano.

[Otto von Ballpark]

This reminds me of when we fielded offers from Korean teams to buy Colabello, who probably would have been a great slugger over there.

 

Are we just buying a significantly more expensive version of Colabello?

[Major League Ready]

 

This reminds me of when we fielded offers from Korean teams to buy Colabello, who probably would have been a great slugger over there.

Are we just buying a significantly more expensive version of Colabello?

 

 

This reminds me of when we fielded offers from Korean teams to buy Colabello, who probably would have been a great slugger over there.

Are we just buying a significantly more expensive version of Colabello?

Maybe.  All I know is I really have no idea and the people making the decision had FAR more than me so I will just reserve judgment.  My bigger concern at this moment is what they can do in terms of balancing the roster and addressing needs.  My first inclination was that this made no sense.  Then, I started to think through potential scenarios as the off-season progresses.  There are so many options that it just does not make sense to evaluate any particular transaction until we see the result of the entire off-season transactions.

[Mike Sixel]

From today's chat on FG:

 

 

 

Dave Cameron

Teams like the Twins should be making exactly these kinds of upside plays. Joe Mauer isn't good enough to be blocking anyone at this point.

[gopherman23]

Park went 0-5 with 3k's against the Dominican Republic today. South Korea won 10-1.

[Vanimal46]

Too early to be concerned that it's been radio silence since the winning bid was announced a week ago? How long did it take for Kang to sign last year?

[ashbury]

Too early to be concerned that it's been radio silence since the winning bid was announced a week ago? How long did it take for Kang to sign last year?

When do teams have to submit their protected list for the rule-5 draft? I think we'll see Kang signed shortly after that date, because I believe signings after that are automatically protected.

[Otto von Ballpark]

When do teams have to submit their protected list for the rule-5 draft? I think we'll see Kang signed shortly after that date, because I believe signings after that are automatically protected.

They will have to drop someone when they sign Park regardless, and it can't be any of them names they will be adding soon to protect for Rule 5 (they have to stay on the roster until March, I think).

[sane]

 

They will have to drop someone when they sign Park regardless, and it can't be any of them names they will be adding soon to protect for Rule 5 (they have to stay on the roster until March, I think).

The rule (if I understand it) is that anyone removed from the 40-man roster AFTER the rule V draft cannot be added back to the 40-man roster AFTER the World Series to protect him from the following year's rule V draft.

 

"A minor league player eligible for selection in the Rule 5 Draft who was sent outright to the minors anytime after the previous Rule 5 Draft cannot be added back to his club's MLB 40-man roster during the period of time beginning at 5 PM (Eastern) on the 5th day after the final game of the World Series up through the conclusion of the Rule 5 Draft."

[Otto von Ballpark]

The rule (if I understand it) is that anyone removed from the 40-man roster AFTER the rule V draft cannot be added back to the 40-man roster AFTER the World Series to protect him from the following year's rule V draft.

 

"A minor league player eligible for selection in the Rule 5 Draft who was sent outright to the minors anytime after the previous Rule 5 Draft cannot be added back to his club's MLB 40-man roster during the period of time beginning at 5 PM (Eastern) on the 5th day after the final game of the World Series up through the conclusion of the Rule 5 Draft."

That is a different rule, concerning different players. I am talking about how you are not allowed to add guys to the 40 in the weeks leading up to the Rule 5 and try to remove them immediately after.

[James]

 

Too early to be concerned that it's been radio silence since the winning bid was announced a week ago? How long did it take for Kang to sign last year?

 

Short answer is that it is too early to worry about this.  They won't make anything official until after Nov. 20th (when they have to submit the 40-roster and protect guys from the rule 5 draft).  

 

They probably have most of the framework all set, and possibly a verbal agreement, but the actual announcement won't be until right before Thanksgiving. 

[sane]

 

That is a different rule, concerning different players. I am talking about how you are not allowed to add guys to the 40 in the weeks leading up to the Rule 5 and try to remove them immediately after.

I am unable to find the rule to which you are referring. It may exist, but it seems to be well hidden.

[Otto von Ballpark]

Short answer is that it is too early to worry about this. They won't make anything official until after Nov. 20th (when they have to submit the 40-roster and protect guys from the rule 5 draft).

 

They probably have most of the framework all set, and possibly a verbal agreement, but the actual announcement won't be until right before Thanksgiving.

Why does the Rule 5 roster date matter? Park goes on the 40-man regardless. It would only matter if they could delay it after the draft in December, in theory they could continue to protect, say, Achter, then try to slip him through waivers after Rule 5 (although most guys are more attractive on waivers than as Rule 5 picks).

[Otto von Ballpark]

I am unable to find the rule to which you are referring. It may exist, but it seems to be well hidden.

Maybe it is not an official rule, but no one gets added to the 40-man on November 20 and then removed before March. That is all I am talking about.

 

The players we add Nov. 20 will still be on the 40 man by March, as will Park.

[gil4]

 

This reminds me of when we fielded offers from Korean teams to buy Colabello, who probably would have been a great slugger over there.

Are we just buying a significantly more expensive version of Colabello?

If so, I hope it's the 2015 version

[James]

 

Why does the Rule 5 roster date matter? Park goes on the 40-man regardless. It would only matter if they could delay it after the draft in December, in theory they could continue to protect, say, Achter, then try to slip him through waivers after Rule 5 (although most guys are more attractive on waivers than as Rule 5 picks).

That was exactly the scenario I was describing.  Unless the Twins feel that they have more spots on the 40-man than guys worth protecting, they will fill it up.  You are correct though, one guy will have to be outrighted off the 40-man roster when they sign Park.  

 

If they had one more spot on the 40-man than prospects they want to protect, then this whole conversation has been pointless.  I'm still guessing the add everyone and outright somebody when they sign Park.

[diehardtwinsfan]

technically, a spot opened up with the Herrman trade.

[nicksaviking]

 

Shohei Otani, who may be the next big thing out of Japan. Otani's fastball can reach 101 mph.

 

Yeah, let's get that guy too.

[nicksaviking]

 

I actually think he will need significant time at Rochester.

 

I base that on absolutely nothing except his home run highlight video on YouTube, and the Google measurement conversation page*. The vast majority of his home runs came on pitches in the 132km to 142km range. Browsing through, the hardest pitch I saw was 149km (92.5 mph), followed by a 146km and a couple 145km. Lots of off speed pitches taken deep, however, which is nice.

 

Probably shouldn't go to AAA than, that level is littered with junkballers who struggle to reach the low 90s.

 

You want him to learn to hit a hard fastball, he'll have to go to AA.  Or face Cleveland for a four game series, that'll teach a guy real good.