MINNEAPOLIS — The Minnesota Twins have designated slugger Byung Ho Park for assignment following a disappointing major league debut in 2016.
The Twins made the potentially expensive move on Friday so they could make room on the 40-man roster for right-handed reliever Matt Belisle, who finalized a $2.05 million, one-year contract with the Twins after posting a career-best 1.76 ERA last season for Washington.
The 30-year-old Park batted .191 with 12 home runs and 24 RBIs in 62 games last season. The Twins paid his South Korean club, the Nexen Heroes, $12.85 million for negotiating rights. Then Park signed a $12 million, four-year contract with Minnesota.