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Article: Twins Have Deal With Byung Ho Park


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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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$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.

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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

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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).

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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...

 

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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.

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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...

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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.

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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!

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"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. 

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