The Twins designated Byung Ho Park for assignment Friday, taking him off the 40-man roster to make room for new reliever Matt Belisle.
But the Twins have no problem with bringing Park to spring training, said chief baseball officer Derek Falvey.
Park played in 62 games for the Twins last season, mostly at designated hitter, with 12 home runs, a .191 average and 80 strikeouts.
He is under contract for three more seasons and would be owed nearly $9 million, so it’s unlikely another team would claim him. The Twins, when Park clears waivers, would likely bring him to training camp as a nonroster invitee. All indications are that this is a calculated move to clear space for Belisle.
“We’ll see how things go over the next few days and see if there is an opportunity for him in spring training,” Falvey said.
A player designated for assignment goes through a 10-day period on waivers.
The Twins paid Nexen, Park’s South Korean team, a $12.85 million posting fee in Dec., 2015. They signed the two-time Korean MVP to an incentive-laden, four-year contract with a maximum value of nearly $22 million, including annual salaries of $2.75 million in 2016 and 2017 and $3 million in 2018 and 2019. There is an option for 2020 at $6.5 million.
After being demoted to Rochester on Jun 28, Park, 30, hit 10 home runs in 31 games last season at Class AAA Rochester (N.Y.). His season ended in mid-May when he opted to have surgery to repair a tendon on the back of his right hand.
If he does remain with the Twins, the club hopes the experience received last season — as well as healthy hands — will benefit him.
“Anytime a player transfers from any level — Triple-A to the majors or from a foreign league — there are going to be some challenges,” Falvey said. “Byung Ho handled them as well as anyone could have.”
The Twins are still on the lookout for bullpen help before pitchers and catchers report on Feb. 14. And if a team, somehow, decides to take a chance on Park the Twins might consider looking for a bat.
Belisle, a 36-year-old righthander who has pitched for the Reds, Rockies, Cardinals and Nationals, agreed to terms Thursday. He posted a 1.76 ERA in 46 innings for Washington last season, striking out 32 while walking only seven. He mostly served as a middle-inning reliever with the Nationals; 28 of his 46 innings pitched last year came in the sixth or seventh innings.
Minnesota’s 4.63 bullpen ERA last season ranked last in the American League and 26th in the majors.
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