You can flip a DH only type at the deadline? Has that happened lately?

 

And, if Park is good, can't you flip him at the deadline?

 

And, we care about "guaranteed" performance in a rebuilding year more than finding out what Park can do, or Vargas (if they sign someone)?

This is kind of why I'm holding a full opinion until I see what they're planning.  If the idea is to give Vargas every chance to show what he's got and not have the older Park get in the way, then I'm fine with the move.  If the idea is to sign someone else to block Vargas, then I don't get it at all.

True, but you're getting something approaching a guaranteed performance level from Napoli or Carter.

 

And, again, they're the types of players you can flip at the deadline. You won't get much for them but they'll be worth something.

 

We spent an entire season talking about how badly this roster is constructed. I'm not going to cry if some of the marginal guys are given the boot.

You might want to check what Napoli fetched in trade in August 2015.

 

Or what Chris Carter fetched for the Brewers last summer.

 

The trade market for these guys will be roughly the same as their FA market now. You might get lucky if someone will take them off your hands for free.

 

You can flip a DH only type at the deadline? Has that happened lately?

 

top of my head: Carlos Beltran last season, probably more there

I seem to recall there being a few murmurs of trade interest in Park last year, so perhaps there will be some sort of return for him in the next 10 days. I feel like the Twins were surprised they won the bidding for him last year, and didn't really anticipate needing to find a spot for him. It's possible that the Twins are higher on Vargas (I happen to be a big fan of a switch hitting DH) and there is no other intent than to signal that they prefer Vargas and there isn't another shoe left to drop.

I will miss his sweet forearm tats though.

 

You can flip a DH only type at the deadline? Has that happened lately?

 

And, if Park is good, can't you flip him at the deadline?

 

And, we care about "guaranteed" performance in a rebuilding year more than finding out what Park can do, or Vargas (if they sign someone)?

Agreed- If Park performs this year, he'll have more value at the deadline (at roughly $4mm/year) than a Napoli, who is older and will probably command around $5mm (guesstimate). 

 

You can flip a DH only type at the deadline? Has that happened lately?

 

And, if Park is good, can't you flip him at the deadline?

 

And, we care about "guaranteed" performance in a rebuilding year more than finding out what Park can do, or Vargas (if they sign someone)?

Carlos Beltran was traded for Dillon Tate + parts. Not strictly a DH but that's almost exclusively what he played for TEX.

 

Carlos Beltran was traded for Dillon Tate + parts. Not strictly a DH but that's almost exclusively what he played for TEX.

 

if the Twins get a Dillon Tate type for Park, Vargas, or a newly signed DH type, I'll be very pleasantly surprised.

Park is not getting claimed. 30 year old 1B/DH with an 83 OPS+ and nagging injuries as a rookie last year, still guaranteed almost $10 mil (albeit over 3 years).

 

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

Case Closed

 

I've never more hoped you were wrong about anything than this.

Wow this is a surprise. I'd rather dfa Vargas over Park. Hopefully he clears.

Kevin
9:47 BYUNG HO PARK DFA'd

 

Jeff Sullivan
9:47 First impression: I hate this
DFA'd for Matt Belisle?
9:48 As always, I have to note that the Twins know more than I do. Maybe Park isn't recovering very well from his injuries. Maybe he's a complete ass. But I hate this

Exchange with Eno Sarris on Twitter:

 

 

eno: We gave Vargas the DH job on the podcast last night.

mike sixel: and yet Dan San has a job

eno: can play a position I guess

 

Have the new owners given up on Park that quickly? Is his wrist more damaged than expected? Are they making room for a Morneau/Napoli signing to follow? Or just really, really hoping he clears waivers to the minors?

 

PLEASE NO. 

 

Exchange with Eno Sarris on Twitter:

 

 

eno: We gave Vargas the DH job on the podcast last night.

mike sixel: and yet Dan San has a job

eno: can play a position I guess

I'm not sure we've been watching the same player.

If this is for Morneau, heads will roll. 

 

I seem to recall there being a few murmurs of trade interest in Park last year, so perhaps there will be some sort of return for him in the next 10 days. I feel like the Twins were surprised they won the bidding for him last year, and didn't really anticipate needing to find a spot for him. It's possible that the Twins are higher on Vargas (I happen to be a big fan of a switch hitting DH) and there is no other intent than to signal that they prefer Vargas and there isn't another shoe left to drop.

I will miss his sweet forearm tats though.

 

I strongly dislike switch hitting personally. It's hard enough to maintain one swing let alone two. Most switch hitters still are better from one side than the other, so the platoon advantage is minimal at most. If I were running an org I'd outlaw switch hitting, it's a waste. 

As I said in the other thread., DFAing Park (who I really wanted to see what he could do this year if healthy) for Belisle (I thought a bad signing to begin with)- FIRE FALVINE INTO THE SUN! The honeymoon period sure didn't last long with those two for me. 

 

I'm not sure we've been watching the same player.

 

I replied that, and he did say I guess.....

CamdenWarehouse
10:00 Park was DFA'd!

Jeff Sullivan
10:00 I'm just going to keep adding these comments to the transcript
Feels like this is where the Rays should pounce

 

I strongly dislike switch hitting personally. It's hard enough to maintain one swing let alone two. Most switch hitters still are better from one side than the other, so the platoon advantage is minimal at most. If I were running an org I'd outlaw switch hitting, it's a waste. 

I don't know, but it just seems like the guys splits that I look at for switch hitters....are usually natural righties that crush LHP, but struggle vs RHP still. I am sure there are cases of the opposite, but the guys Ive looked at recently seem to to be guys that are much better vs LHP.

http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/the-twins-quit-on-byung-ho-park/

 

I don't know, but it just seems like the guys splits that I look at for switch hitters....are usually natural righties that crush LHP, but struggle vs RHP still. I am sure there are cases of the opposite, but the guys Ive looked at recently seem to to be guys that are much better vs LHP.

 

Right. Most of the top switch hitters Beltran, VMart, etc are so supremely talented that I think if they swung the bat from just one side they'd really have no problem with platoon splits anyway. I think some of the less talented switch hitters might have had more success if they had just focused and spent their energy on one swing. 

I don't know, but it just seems like the guys splits that I look at for switch hitters....are usually natural righties that crush LHP, but struggle vs RHP still. I am sure there are cases of the opposite, but the guys Ive looked at recently seem to to be guys that are much better vs LHP.

Yep. Many switch hitters end up better against righties, which constitute 70% of MLB pitchers.

 

So if you're naturally right-handed and can switch hit, it makes sense to give it a try.

I hope he doesn't get claimed.  I would love to see what he can do when he is health and has a full year of getting used to the game as well as the culture here in the states.  I fear a Tampa or KC type could take a flier on him and it comes back to bite us.

I'll say this again, I don't think he gets claimed, and he's in AAA to start the year. But, I'd rather not take that risk, and would rather risk losing Dan San instead. 

 

Not certain this team should be getting older at this point in the rebuild.....

 

edit: Dave Cameron has convinced me, he won't be a Twin at $3MM a year....someone will claim him.

Edited February 3, 20179 yr by Mike Sixel

 

Yep. Many switch hitters end up better against righties, which constitute 70% of MLB pitchers.

So if you're naturally right-handed and can switch hit, it makes sense to give it a try.

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.

Dave Cameron...not a fan:

 

http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/the-twins-quit-on-byung-ho-park/

 

money quote:

One could reasonably argue that the Twins should have kept him around and hoped to find enough playing time to be the team that got some value out of a potential improvement, but since they just had to have Matt Belisle pitching the seventh inning in a non-contention year, some other franchise will now get to make a bet on Park’s cheap upside.

 

Edited February 3, 20179 yr by Mike Sixel

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.

Edited February 3, 20179 yr by SotaFan14

 

Dave Cameron...not a fan:

 

http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/the-twins-quit-on-byung-ho-park/

 

Can't imagine anyone is. This seems like a very Terry Ryan sequence of moves. Sign a veteran retread NL only reliever with poor K-rate. Need roster spot- bypass logical fringe relievers, Danny Santana- jettison injured player with potential with good metrics but poor batting average. 

Edited February 3, 20179 yr by d-mac

I hope he doesn't get claimed. I would love to see what he can do when he is health and has a full year of getting used to the game as well as the culture here in the states. I fear a Tampa or KC type could take a flier on him and it comes back to bite us.

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