Fangraphs has updated their projections and depth charts for Park (and others), and there is a short article also:

 

http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/projecting-byung-ho-park-hyun-soo-kim-and-kenta-maeda/

 

Interesting.....he might be a plus defender at 1B, will he and Mauer switch roles? I have my doubts.....

Wow, imagine if we got 30 bombs from Park and 35 from Sano. Yes please.

I think Mauer will still get the majority of starts at 1B this season as Park adjusts to the league. But I can certainly envision beginning in 2017 where Mauer and Park switch roles, especially if Park turns out to be that plus defender in the field. 

Edited February 8, 201610 yr by Vanimal46

Yeah, barring resurgence, I suspect Mauer's role will slowly be diminished over the next few seasons.

I'll go with the under on the 30 home runs, mainly because of Target Field and his use of the big part of the ballpark. 

 

http://twinsdaily.com/_/minnesota-twins-news/what-should-the-twins-expect-from-byung-ho-park-r4266

If Park puts that line up, there's no way Mauer should be playing anywhere...

I love that projected line, but note it's only worth 1.9 WAR.

 

Fellow KBO signee Hyun-soo Kim is projected at 1.7 WAR, and he's an actual corner outfielder signed for 2/7.  Could we have gone after him instead and avoided the whole Sano to RF situation?  (And saved some cash/commitment as a side benefit?)

 

Note these Fangraphs projections currently have Sano as an average defender in RF, probably due to lack of data?  I know many have said Buxton's dWAR projection here looks low, but combined with Sano's, it's probably a net wash for the team.

 

As for Park's defense, I remember reading he covered 3B a little bit in Korea last year, which might help support the idea that he is more than capable at 1B.  Or at least that his Korean team tried to convey that to gullible Americans like myself in advance of selling him.

The Fangraphs projections seem to be bearish on the Twins' defense across the board. It sounds like Park could be a defensive upgrade over Mauer.

 

I expected Park's addition to the depth charts to move the needle a little more in the projected standings. They have it improving the run differential by 8 or so, but still leave the Twins with 78 wins.

 

I expected Park's addition to the depth charts to move the needle a little more in the projected standings. They have it improving the run differential by 8 or so, but still leave the Twins with 78 wins.

Problem is, Park's PAs primarily come at the expense of 4 players: Sano, Arcia, Mauer, and Vargas.  With Park, those are our top 5 hitters by projected wOBA, hence re-allocating PAs from them to Park doesn't move the needle much.

I think they (by they, in this case, I mean the math, not the people, who probably are more bearish) project league average defense for guys that have not played that position before, but I could be wrong. If so, that would explain Sano's defense on Steamer.

Park said his wrist was fine today and practiced with the others. 

 

Problem is, Park's PAs primarily come at the expense of 4 players: Sano, Arcia, Mauer, and Vargas.  With Park, those are our top 5 hitters by projected wOBA, hence re-allocating PAs from them to Park doesn't move the needle much.

Park won't take one PA from Sano. Arcia and Vargas are not locks to make the team. At worst, this is a depth move in case Arcia and Vargas disappoint again.

The coaches will know very quickly if Park can field. There's no mistaking the footwork, form and timing of a good fielder. It certainly would be nice to have a power hitting 1B with a good glove. 

 

Park won't take one PA from Sano. Arcia and Vargas are not locks to make the team. At worst, this is a depth move in case Arcia and Vargas disappoint again.

I'm referring to the Fangraphs projection.