Twins DFA Byungho Park

[d-mac]

 

With Park DFA'd--Now, they need to get a veteran bat.  There is one guy that I have been waiting for them to sign.  Daniel Descalso can play all of the IF positions and is an ok bat.  This would add another option at SS and can spell Sano and Dozier if needed.  He has also played a few games in the OF the last couple years so could slot in there if needed.  In looking at the possible available OF's to replace Grossman as the 4th OF, there are a few options that sound ok but not great. Angel Pagan is one option that makes sense but not sure he could play in CF though he did log 122 games there in 2015.  He was a 2.1 WAR guy last year and was a key piece to all of those SF Giants WS titles. I seem to remember him as a good RISP guy as well.  Coco Crisp and Micheal Bourn are not great but can still handle CF if needed too and can still swipe a bag or too.  All 3 are long in the tooth but have been around the block and could bring a Hunter like voice for the younger guys. 

 

I would rather have any of those 3 to replace Grossman as the 4th OF.  His D is the main issue and aside from a few hot month, was below replacement player last year all around.  Danny needs to go as he is not good anywhere on the diamond.

 

Why not dump Grossman or Dsan to sign either of those players?

[gunnarthor]

So, I guess the logic is this.  Park won't get claimed.  He needs some time in AAA since we don't know what we have in him. He's unlikely to get claimed b/c there are more reliable RH power bats.  Letting him start the season in AAA clears the way for Vargas to start as the DH.  I suppose that all makes sense but, dang, I like Park.  

[gunnarthor]

 

Why not dump Grossman or Dsan to sign either of those players?

Grossman has a legit skill - he can take a walk and he can hit LH pitchers.  He defense is bad but in a platoon, which is how apparently he'll be used, he's ok.  

 

Santana, I don't get.  I'll just blame it on Molitor and move on.

[d-mac]

 

So, I guess the logic is this.  Park won't get claimed.  He needs some time in AAA since we don't know what we have in him. He's unlikely to get claimed b/c there are more reliable RH power bats.  Letting him start the season in AAA clears the way for Vargas to start as the DH.  I suppose that all makes sense but, dang, I like Park.  

 

Vargas was just granted a 4th option year. The move makes even less sense in light of that. 

[Mike Sixel]

 

No fear. $10 mil is too much for a "flier" on a guy like Park, especially for TB or KC.

 

Over three years? I am no longer sure that is the case.

[SotaFan14]

 

Why not dump Grossman or Dsan to sign either of those players?

exactly--They add way more than those two ever could.  You could get Pagan on a 1yr/5mil or less deal and Descalso on a minor league deal

[d-mac]

For the record, I preferred Jason McLeod. 

[d-mac]

 

Grossman has a legit skill - he can take a walk and he can hit LH pitchers.  He defense is bad but in a platoon, which is how apparently he'll be used, he's ok.  

 

Santana, I don't get.  I'll just blame it on Molitor and move on.

 

Agreed. I'd also preferred they'd keep him too. I don't get all the hate for him. He gets on base like a boss. I'd prefer they had not signed Belisle. We wouldn't be having this discussion. 

[Otto von Ballpark]

Over three years? I am no longer sure that is the case.

For a guy with Park's record, or lack thereof, even that modest commitment is fairly steep. Heck, they don't even know his health status, much less whether he can hit.

[Mike Sixel]

I recently asked if Grossman could play 1B and DH, this is all my fault. Sorry everyone.

 

 

[Brock Beauchamp]

I was trying to say the opposite. That most of the switch hitters seem to me like they hit better vs LHP, and not as good vs RHP...so, like Vargas and Hicks.

Maybe I have that backwards, going from very old reading. I'll have to dig into it more.

[Siehbiscuit]

All 2016 and this offseason, we have been clanging cymbals and screaming how we have too many DH/1B types and how our pitching needs help. So, the Twins make a move for a solid bullpen piece and cut a low-floor, though high-upside 30 year old DH/1B (which we had previously stated are in abundance) and we are angry about this? Why? Fans tend to over value our own far more than others do. Parks potential is high, but we need to get better and we can't have a lottery ticket at every position. The bullpen is a little better now and the offense likely didn't get any worse.

[Mike Sixel]

 

All 2016 and this offseason, we have been clanging cymbals and screaming how we have too many DH/1B types and how our pitching needs help. So, the Twins make a move for a solid bullpen piece and cut a low-floor, though high-upside 30 year old DH/1B (which we had previously stated are in abundance) and we are angry about this? Why? Fans tend to over value our own far more than others do. Parks potential is high, but we need to get better and we can't have a lottery ticket at every position. The bullpen is a little better now and the offense likely didn't get any worse.

 

Well, are you are sure he's better than what they had? Are you sure they could not have DFAd Dan San, or another RP that won't now make the roster? 

[drjim]

I didn't especially like the Belisle signing, but the dfa of Park is fine by me.

 

Highly doubt anyone takes on that contract. And if they do, I'm sure the Twins would be ecstatic.

 

I'm also the high guy on Santana, so I'm probably biased. He provides depth at enough spots and is worth giving another shot while still making the minimum.

[drjim]

All 2016 and this offseason, we have been clanging cymbals and screaming how we have too many DH/1B types and how our pitching needs help. So, the Twins make a move for a solid bullpen piece and cut a low-floor, though high-upside 30 year old DH/1B (which we had previously stated are in abundance) and we are angry about this? Why? Fans tend to over value our own far more than others do. Parks potential is high, but we need to get better and we can't have a lottery ticket at every position. The bullpen is a little better now and the offense likely didn't get any worse.

Park provides so little to the team going forward.

 

It was an ill advised signing at the time and he still doesn't fit the roster. Good for the front office in being aggressive and not letting money on a contract dictate a move.

[drjim]

Danny Santana is to Molitor what Nick Punto was to Gardenhire.

Case Closed

I'm the high guy on Santana, I wish he was as good as Punto.

[Mike Sixel]

 

I didn't especially like the Belisle signing, but the dfa of Park is fine by me.

Highly doubt anyone takes on that contract. And if they do, I'm sure the Twins would be ecstatic.

I'm also the high guy on Santana, so I'm probably biased. He provides depth at enough spots and is worth giving another shot while still making the minimum.

 

How many years does he have to hit badly, run badly, and field badly, before we realize he's bad?

[drjim]

How will the Twins ever replace a 30 yo that hit 191/275/409 with a k rate in the 30s and no defensive flexibility.

[Otto von Ballpark]

Park provides so little to the team going forward.

 

It was an ill advised signing at the time and he still doesn't fit the roster. Good for the front office in being aggressive and not letting money on a contract dictate a move.

I get what you mean, but I am pretty sure money did dictate this move. Park's salary makes him less likely to be claimed than any of our other DFA candidates.

[Siehbiscuit]

Well, are you are sure he's better than what they had? Are you sure they could not have DFAd Dan San, or another RP that won't now make the roster?

 

I'm not SURE of anything, but we can't have our cake and eat it too. Danny Santana is awful and I would love to see him go. That said our deepest areas to purge are the DH types and it's possible we can still keep Park if he's unclaimed. Belisle isn't a for sure signing, but we need depth and quantity here. Our bullpen is not good. Why do we act as if Park's offense will be better than Vargas, Grossman or even Palka? Our offense wasn't the primary reason for a 103-loss season.

[Mike Sixel]

NatsFan
10:27 Byung-Ho Park just got DFA'd. Discuss. Potential 1B depth for Nats?

 

Jeff Sullivan
10:28 Looks like Dave put up a post about this. At least the first part. Good! Korean players continue to get way too little respect.

[drjim]

How many years does he have to hit badly, run badly, and field badly, before we realize he's bad?

Sounds like everyone already knows it.

 

I think he's worth another shot while making the minumum and maybe a more savvy front office and coaches to use him better.

 

Or maybe he'll be the next guy to get dfaed.

[drjim]

I get what you mean, but I am pretty sure money did dictate this move. Park's salary makes him less likely to be claimed than any of our other DFA candidates.

Perhaps. Also makes him much less of a loss if claimed.

[wsnydes]

 

Sounds like everyone already knows it.

I think he's worth another shot while making the minumum and maybe a more savvy front office and coaches to use him better.

Or maybe he'll be the next guy to get dfaed.

How much longer are we going to keep saying that?  I know that I've been saying it for at least a year, so I'm sure that there are others that have been for longer.

 

It's almost like a running gag anymore.

[drjim]

Sounds like everyone already knows it.

 

I think he's worth another shot while making the minumum and maybe a more savvy front office and coaches to use him better.

 

Or maybe he'll be the next guy to get dfaed.

My other thought on Santana is I always think it is wise for a rebuilding team to place a bet on tools, especially if they have ever flashed a stick, no matter how brief.

 

If he was in another org and was dfaed, he's the kind of guy I would want the Twins to take a flyer on, especially since they still don't have a SS.

[ShouldaCouldaWoulda]

 

Maybe I have that backwards, going from very old reading. I'll have to dig into it more.

Found a few articles that showed about evenness, and even those splits have changed since then. For instance, Grossman was listed as a guy who does better vs RHP than LHP. Seems that things can change, click, or regress with sample size and what not. 

 

Considering the weird past and present platoon splits of both Vargas crushing RHP in the minors and Grossman doing better vs RHP in the past, that Vargas should be playing 1B vs LHP and Grossman DH, and vs RHP...alternate the two and play the hot bat, as both have shown the ability to hit RHP in the past. I don't want Grossman roaming the OF.

[Loosey]

If anything, it tells me this new regime understands sunk costs.  Not that I agree or disagree with the move, I'm actually indifferent, but the old FO would hold on to someone way too long because they spend $12M on them 15 months earlier.  The new guys understand that money is gone, and holding on to an asset that has no current value (to them) makes no sense.

 

 

[drjim]

I do think this move increases the chances of lots of Sano at DH and lots of Polanco at 3b.

[Mike Sixel]

Zonk
10:31 Didn't Fangraphs post an article entitled "Don't give up on Byong Ho Park". So then what do the Twins do? Exactly that.

 

Jeff Sullivan
10:31 They must really not think he'll get over his injuries

[drjim]

How much longer are we going to keep saying that? I know that I've been saying it for at least a year, so I'm sure that there are others that have been for longer.

 

It's almost like a running gag anymore.

Since I don't want them to dfa Santana, I hope the gag lasts at least until April.