Twins DFA Byungho Park

[rukavina]

Twins DFA Michael Tonkin to make room for Adam Brett Walker.

 

[TheLeviathan]

 

Twins DFA Michael Tonkin to make room for Adam Brett Walker.

 

......Am I being Twins rick-rolled?

[d-mac]

 

Twins DFA Michael Tonkin to make room for Adam Brett Walker.

 

Serious or naw?

[Loosey]

 

He's serious.

 

It's a slight misapplication of the term "sunk cost" but the broader point is absolutely correct.

The sunk cost I was referring to was the posting fee.  His salary is nothing.

[Riverbrian]

To me... the move seems calculated. Such as... they think he will squeeze through. If he does... the move is a nice one.  

 

However... If the front office doesn't care if he gets claimed or is hoping that he gets claimed... Umm... that leads my thoughts in a whole new scarier direction. 

 

Here are my scary Thoughts:: 

 

I'm not aware of any major changes in our scouting and development team. These are the same people with the inside detailed reports on Park that Falvey/Levine would have to use to take under proper consideration for a move like this. 

 

This would mean that the same people who are recommending that Park may not be the real deal is coming from the same people who thought he would be the real deal when we signed him for 8 figures. 

 

These same people are the ones that I don't totally trust right now.

[Vanimal46]

 

......Am I being Twins rick-rolled?

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-baqmxAt8YHg/UMRuNx6uNdI/AAAAAAAAD1s/TzmvfnYyP8E/s1600/rick-astely.gif

[d-mac]

 

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-baqmxAt8YHg/UMRuNx6uNdI/AAAAAAAAD1s/TzmvfnYyP8E/s1600/rick-astely.gif

 

Is it just me or does Rick Astley look like a very gingery Benedict Cumberbatch? 

[wsnydes]

 

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-baqmxAt8YHg/UMRuNx6uNdI/AAAAAAAAD1s/TzmvfnYyP8E/s1600/rick-astely.gif

The South Park episode where they Rick Roll all of the internet trolls is epic.  Brilliant even.

[USAFChief]

I probably shouldn't have said "lots" and more thought of it as keeping options open to move players around the diamond. Which is also the reason they aren't in a hurry to get rid of Santana.

 

Guys like Park are dinosaurs, especially when they "produce" an 80 wRC+.

Boy, I disagree with everything you have said in this thread, Jim.

 

I don't see DFA'ing Park over Santana, guys who can hit will never be "dinosaurs" in MLB, Dan San has no place playing SS, has no skill worth keeping around, and I sure as heck don't think Polanco has enough bat to make playing him at third a good idea.

[HitInAPinch]

 

How does Danny Santana survive over Park?

Oh, come on.  You just did that to see how many "Likes" you could get! 

 

      Congrats!!

[Vanimal46]

 

Oh, come on.  You just did that to see how many "Likes" you could get! 

 

      Congrats!!

Sometimes the lowest hanging fruit is the sweetest.... 

[nicksaviking]

La Velle Tweeted that the expectation is that he'll clear waivers:

 

https://twitter.com/LaVelleNeal/status/827595931533058049

 

I think it's possible that in the Twins eyes clearing waivers is all but a certainty meaning all this did was let them put off any decision until this spring.

 

If he gets claimed we'll know they were wrong. If he doesn't, I guess we'll never know if there was much risk of losing him or not.

[Squirrel]

I'm quoting them to let people see what others are saying, and not at all saying if they have any authority at all. Just adding to the conversation, you'll note here and on the other thread, I post things I agree and disagree with. It's about the conversation, not being "right" or "wrong".

And thank you. I appreciate hearing these other viewpoints as well, agree or disagree, and think they add to the conversation.

[Pardon My Dinger]

 

[drjim]

 

Boy, I disagree with everything you have said in this thread, Jim.

I don't see DFA'ing Park over Santana, guys who can hit will never be "dinosaurs" in MLB, Dan San has no place playing SS, has no skill worth keeping around, and I sure as heck don't think Polanco has enough bat to make playing him at third a good idea.

 

But it's not clear that Park will ever hit enough to justify not bringing any additional value to a team. Even if he improves significantly this year from last year it's not clear it will be enough.

 

I'm not sure I agree completely on Polanco. Ideally he is a 2b, but I think him at 3b next year would be about getting the best defensive alignment with the best bats in the lineup. That could certainly be upgraded in the upcoming years, but next year's roster is not going to improve significantly at this point. I also think there is a little more in there for Polanco.

[Brandon]

The Twins seem to be trying to rid themselves of their power potential.  Trying to trade Dozier, letting Walker go and now DFAing Park.  look out Palka and Vargas your next.  

 

[wsnydes]

 

But it's not clear that Park will ever hit enough to justify not bringing any additional value to a team. Even if he improves significantly this year from last year it's not clear it will be enough.

 

I'm not sure I agree completely on Polanco. Ideally he is a 2b, but I think him at 3b next year would be about getting the best defensive alignment with the best bats in the lineup. That could certainly be upgraded in the upcoming years, but next year's roster is not going to improve significantly at this point. I also think there is a little more in there for Polanco.

But we do know that Santana can't do anything at even replacement level ability.  Playing multiple positions poorly isn't a valuable skill.  He also provides no offensive abilities.  His speed can only be utilized if he gets on base - which he doesn't do at a high enough rate for it to be valuable.  

 

I'm with Chief on Polanco.  I don't believe he can play 3B either.  I also think it's a bit too early to take 3B away from Sano.

 

 

[Mike Sixel]

 

The Twins seem to be trying to rid themselves of their power potential.  Trying to trade Dozier, letting Walker go and now DFAing Park.  look out Palka and Vargas your next.  

 

Walker can't hit or field....his being DFAd multiple times by multiple teams should indicate that.

 

They tried to trade Dozier because he is only signed for 2 more years, and they need more young players....and they ultimately kept him because there weren't offered enough.

 

They DFAd Park, imo, because they don't believe someone will claim him. 

[nicksaviking]

 

The Twins seem to be trying to rid themselves of their power potential.  Trying to trade Dozier, letting Walker go and now DFAing Park.  look out Palka and Vargas your next.  

 

I'm quite confident none of those things are at all related to each other. Each was an independent decision caused by different contributing factors and motivations.

 

Except for the Walker/Palka bit. They may have DFA'd Walker because they preferred Palka.

[AWOLNATION_11]

Based on a lot of the comments it sounds like there will be a robust trade market for Park in order to beat the higher waiver priority teams to add his services.

[Lefty74]

Agree with those who see this as a calculated gamble. Very low chance he gets picked up and if he does it isn't that painful. We already have too many DH types and Falvey/Levine probably believe there are many external options as well.

[USAFChief]

But it's not clear that Park will ever hit enough to justify not bringing any additional value to a team. Even if he improves significantly this year from last year it's not clear it will be enough.

 

I'm not sure I agree completely on Polanco. Ideally he is a 2b, but I think him at 3b next year would be about getting the best defensive alignment with the best bats in the lineup. That could certainly be upgraded in the upcoming years, but next year's roster is not going to improve significantly at this point. I also think there is a little more in there for Polanco.

Concur on Park, he certainly didn't hit last year. Poor wording on my part. I'd still gamble on him before gambling on Santana being of value.

[drjim]

Concur on Park, he certainly didn't hit last year. Poor wording on my part. I'd still gamble on him before gambling on Santana being of value.

I'm the high man on Santana, but only on the sense I would gamble on his tools. If they signed a legit middle IF and got rid of Santana I wouldn't be that bothered.

 

As has been mentioned, likely Park isn't claimed, so they can probably still gamble on both.

[HitInAPinch]

[d-mac]

 

The South Park episode where they Rick Roll all of the internet trolls is epic.  Brilliant even.

 

That whole show is brilliant. 

[iTwins]

This one was a surprise. 

 

On one hand, it's good to see the new leadership isn't phased by sunk costs. So, the Twins potentially have a bad investment in Park - doesn't seem to factor into the decision. What's best for the team, taking priority over long term loyalties or big contracts - that's a refreshing change.  

 

On the other hand - with all the talk of his injury and the difficulties surrounding the transition to a new country, it seems strange for the team to have determined that he's already a bad investment. 

 

I'm inclined to think he clears waivers, given the depressed market for power bats and his contract - but I've been wrong before. Odds are fairly good it will happen at least one more time. 

[Brock Beauchamp]

 

Concur on Park, he certainly didn't hit last year. Poor wording on my part. I'd still gamble on him before gambling on Santana being of value.

I'd prefer neither but don't really care either way.

 

Santana can play the field, albeit badly.

 

And if the front office has no faith in Park after getting a closer look at him, I understand releasing him.

 

I simply don't care much about any of this. If Santana looks inept in Spring Training but somehow makes the team, then maybe I'll be upset about it because the Twins will be playing games that count with a suboptimal roster.

 

Until that day comes, "meh".

[Dantes929]

 

Right, so our strongest potential platoon partner for Mauer against LHP is gone? Does this mean he will hit waivers and then report to AAA? 

Vargas OPS against lefties last year was 1.262.  Small sample size but I think he is generally considered better from the right side.    That would make him a good platoon partner for Joe.    Now Justin can come back.

[Oldgoat_MN]

In 2015 DanSan was rated by Fangraphs as the 300th best player of 316 with the number of at bats Santana had.

In 2016 he was 307th of 311.

 

I would have thought the Twins would have used Belilse as an excuse to DFA DanSan.

 

Park, a 1B/DH who, when healthy, hits RH pitching as well as LH pitching. I just don't get it.

Perhaps his injury is not healing or is worse than we were led to believe.

[Mike Sixel]

 

In 2015 DanSan was rated by Fangraphs as the 300th best player of 316 with the number of at bats Santana had.

In 2016 he was 307th of 311.

 

I would have thought the Twins would have used Belilse as an excuse to DFA DanSan.

 

Park, a 1B/DH who, when healthy, hits RH pitching as well as LH pitching. I just don't get it.

Perhaps his injury is not healing or is worse than we were led to believe.

 

So he's not the worst player.