Article: Twins Have Deal With Byung Ho Park

[Seth Stohs]

The Twins have reached agreement on a contract with Korean 1B/DH Byung Ho Park, according to multiple sources. Jon Heyman of CBS Sports first reported the deal and Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports followed up with the specifics: four years, $12 million. The contract also includes a $6.5 million team option for 2020.If you're surprised by how low that number is, you're not alone. Five years ago, the Twins signed Tsuyoshi Nishioka to a similar three-year, $9.25 million deal despite his being a far less accomplished player in Japan. Last year, the Pirates signed fellow Korean Jung Ho Kang to a four-year deal worth $11 million, so Park's commitment is only a shade bigger even though Kang paved the way with a highly successful rookie year in Pittsburgh.

 

Of course, the Twins also will pay a $12.85 million posting fee to Nexen, Park's club in Korea, so the total investment here is more substantial than either of the aforementioned examples (Nishioka's posting fee was $5.3 million, Kang's was $5 million). Still, if Park's production translates to the major leagues as the Twins are hoping, he could prove to be a tremendous value. Park is 29, so this contract will lock him up through through his age 32 season.

 

With the big power bat now officially locked in, the Twins will turn their attention to other matters, including a potential Trevor Plouffe trade that would open up third base for Miguel Sano. The Winter Meetings get underway in Nashville next Monday.

 

UPDATE:

Here are the specifics of the deal:

 

2016: $2.75M

2017: $2.75M

2018: $3.00M

2019: $3.00M

2010: Club option for $6.5M with a $0.5M buyout.

 

Max Deal would be 5 years, $18M.

 

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[Winston Smith]

$24.8 total not a lot of money over 4 years.

[ScrapTheNickname]

$3 million a year?

Nick Punto made $4 million in 2009.

Something doesn't add up.

Do both sides expect mediocrity?

 

I guess you add on the signing fee and it comes to $6 mill a year, but still ...

 

[tobi0040]

I would say at 4/24, this is a great roll of the dice.   While I don't expect him to fall on his face, if he does this is not a crippling contract by any stretch.

 

I saw an estimate at 4/32 for the contract alone.

[tobi0040]

Breaking news. 

 

As part of this transaction, the expiring contract of Ricky Nolasco has been shipped to Park's Korean team.

 

OK OK, I kid  One can hope.

[blindeke]

Can't wait. Best case he turns out to be Jose Abreu 2.0.

[T.C.]

 

Pohlad is cheap

There have been times to say this, now is not one. They paid what it took to get the player they wanted...

[Otto von Ballpark]

 

$3 million a year?

Nick Punto made $4 million in 2009.

Something doesn't add up.

Do both sides expect mediocrity?

 

I guess you add on the signing fee and it comes to $6 mill a year, but still ...

Remember, he was locked into negotiating with only the Twins.  Very hard to get a player-friendly deal under those circumstances.

 

I expect if Korean players will be coming over here regularly, we will soon see reforms of their posting system, much like we have seen with Japan.

[nytwinsfan]

Wow, that's a great deal for the Twins. Holy smokes. Given the potential upside, no way this deal wasn't worth it. Fantastic.

[rico7961]

If he hits .250 with 15-20 HR's he's worth 3M a year. A risk worth taking. It gives them some additional money to spend elsewhere.

[Gernzy]

 

 

Wow, that's a great deal for the Twins. Holy smokes. Given the potential upside, no way this deal wasn't worth it. Fantastic.

 

Was gonna say the same thing. I saw the deal pop up on my phone and was like what? So cheap! Love this deal.

[Steve Penz]

 

There have been times to say this, now is not one. They paid what it took to get the player they wanted...

Agreed.  Boo to the "cheap" comment.  They signed him.  

[sane09]

I think the current pause before acquiring bullpen additions will end after the Winter Meetings/Rule5 draft.

Those additions are likely NOT going to be trades and adding to the roster is better done after Rule 5 protection isn't necessary for the current roster players

[gunnarthor]

I think the low value also makes it easier for the Twins to send him to AAA if he needs it rather than keeping him on the ML roster b/c of his salary.

 

Hopefully that doesn't happen, of course.

[Vanimal46]

Alright, he's here! Now it will be interesting to see if a Plouffe trade is coming soon. 

[Otto von Ballpark]

 

Five years ago, the Twins signed Tsuyoshi Nishioka to a similar three-year, $9.25 million deal despite his being a far less accomplished player in Japan.

"Far less accomplished"?  These things from Nishioka's Wikipedia page sound like accomplishments (although I am admittedly unsure of "2010 NPB 27 Slug prize record"):

• 2× Japan Series champion (2005, 2010)
• 5× NPB All-Star (2005–2008, 2010)
• 3× NPB Best Nine Award (2005, 2007, 2010)
• 3× NPB Golden Glove Award (2005, 2007, 2010)
• 2× NPB stolen base leader (2005–2006)
• 2010 NPB batting champion
• 2010 NPB safe hit champion
• 2010 NPB 27 Slug prize record

He was also a 26 year old shortstop at the time.

 

Compared to 29 year old 1B Park's Wikipedia accomplishments:

• 2× KBO MVP (2012–2013)
• 3× KBO Golden Glove Award (2012–2014)
• 4× KBO Home Run title (2012–2015)
• 4× KBO RBI title (2012–2015)
• 2× KBO Slugging Percentage title (2012–2013)
• 2014 KBO All-Star Game MVP

 

They are very different accomplishments, for sure, but they don't seem that different in quantity or quality (especially if you grade NBP as a better league).

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

 

Remember, he was locked into negotiating with only the Twins.  Very hard to get a player-friendly deal under those circumstances.

 

I expect if Korean players will be coming over here regularly, we will soon see reforms of their posting system, much like we have seen with Japan.

Twins exploiting a market inefficiency? 

 

I think I need to restart my computer or something and check this again...

 

[Otto von Ballpark]

 

If he hits .250 with 15-20 HR's he's worth 3M a year. A risk worth taking. It gives them some additional money to spend elsewhere.

I'm not quite sure if that is true.  Ryan Doumit averaged .261 and 16 HR in his two seasons here and wasn't particularly worth the $3.5 mil a year we guaranteed him.

 

The only real value to this deal will be if he notably exceeds those numbers, and he obviously has a shot right now.  Will be interesting to watch.

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

All stats and awards aside, this has turned out really well so far. 

 

Park got what he wanted, to play in the U.S., and the Twins got a really friendly contract. Essentially 4 years, 24 million total, I bet plenty of other teams in hindsight would have taken that. 

[Otto von Ballpark]

 

Twins exploiting a market inefficiency?

Could be.  It does seem like we were more aggressive than other teams with our posting fee bid on Park, which is smart IF you actually want the player under this posting system.  Of course, it the player ultimately isn't worth wanting, it's not really an inefficiency that other teams bid less...

[Danchat]

Wow. Good job getting him cheap, TR. I liked the bid before but now I like it even better.

 

If Park doesn't work out, then we don't have to lose a lot of money. If he does work out, then we got a heck of a bargain. That's a win-win deal in my eyes.

[Otto von Ballpark]

 

Essentially 4 years, 24 million total, I bet plenty of other teams in hindsight would have taken that. 

Given the difference in defensive position and age with Jung Ho Kang, and Kang's limited MLB resume thus far, it's hardly clear yet if teams were scared off by Park's potentially high price tag, or if that was more of a media mismeasurement.

[Mike Sixel]

Huh, that's less than I expected him to get. Good luck to both sides!

[jsteve96]

 

I'm not quite sure if that is true.  Ryan Doumit averaged .261 and 16 HR in his two seasons here and wasn't particularly worth the $3.5 mil a year we guaranteed him.

 

The only real value to this deal will be if he notably exceeds those numbers, and he obviously has a shot right now.  Will be interesting to watch.

???? that is easily worth more than 3 million. if he does it DH'ing for sure, only way it possibly couldn't if he plays First base like Nishioka played 2nd!

[Seth Stohs]

 

"Far less accomplished"?  These things from Nishioka's Wikipedia page sound like accomplishments (although I am admittedly unsure of "2010 NPB 27 Slug prize record"):

• 2× Japan Series champion (2005, 2010)
• 5× NPB All-Star (2005–2008, 2010)
• 3× NPB Best Nine Award (2005, 2007, 2010)
• 3× NPB Golden Glove Award (2005, 2007, 2010)
• 2× NPB stolen base leader (2005–2006)
• 2010 NPB batting champion
• 2010 NPB safe hit champion
• 2010 NPB 27 Slug prize record

He was also a 26 year old shortstop at the time.

 

Compared to 29 year old 1B Park's Wikipedia accomplishments:

• 2× KBO MVP (2012–2013)
• 3× KBO Golden Glove Award (2012–2014)
• 4× KBO Home Run title (2012–2015)
• 4× KBO RBI title (2012–2015)
• 2× KBO Slugging Percentage title (2012–2013)
• 2014 KBO All-Star Game MVP

 

They are very different accomplishments, for sure, but they don't seem that different in quantity or quality (especially if you grade NBP as a better league).

 

Correct on all counts... And I consider Japan the superior of the two leagues, though that gap may be getting smaller too. 

[jsteve96]

WHAT A STEAL. If it was less than this i would feel terrible for him and would possibly call the Twins Communists haha. Easily can find 12 million worth of value in 4.. Easily

[DocBauer]

Wow! Thought for sure we were talking about $5M, which could also be considered a steal. And the investment isn't great enough to handcuff the Twins if it blows up for any reason.

 

Let the Plouffe speculation begin again!

[Major League Ready]

Anyone have a reliable scouting report in terms of his defensive ability at 1B?  I have heard he is terrible from some sources and good from others.  I also heard awhile back that he has played some outfield.

[PseudoSABR]

The low annual salary makes Park an excellent trade chip in the future (even if Park turns out to be an average player), as the posting fee will have been paid.   If it becomes clear that Sano can't play the field, or other prospects emerge, Park's contract won't be a hindrance in any deal.

[James]

I am excited about this deal.  Congrats to everyone involved.  I'm excited to see Park blasting HRs out of Target Field in 2016.