MINNEAPOLIS – The Twins still have three weeks to work out a contract with Korean slugger Byung-ho Park, but there could be a potential companion move to help offset the cost.

Kennys Vargas, a power-hitting revelation as a rookie in 2014 who struggled last season with the Twins, has drawn interest from at least one professional team in Asia, according to a person with direct knowledge. That interest is mutual, but the Twins are understandably reluctant to subtract such a talent until Park is signed.

Teams in the Korea Baseball Organization have begun signing North American players to fill their limited allotment for 2016. It’s also possible Vargas, 25, could have his contract sold to a Japanese team, where switch-hitting sluggers are always in demand.

“He’d make a ton of money over there,” a Twins employee said of the first baseman.

At 6-foot-5 and 280 pounds, Vargas carries a mammoth frame to go along with an outsized personality. That would make him highly marketable overseas if he were able to produce.

“That’s just speculative,” Mike Radcliff, Twins vice president of player personnel, said of the overseas interest. “I haven’t talked to Kennys personally about that. I don’t know what he thinks. We still have high hopes for Kennys Vargas, just like (we do for) Danny Santana. We think both guys can still be viable major leaguers.”

While Santana has been playing center field in the Dominican Winter League, Vargas would appear blocked by Park after the Twins submitted a winning bid of $12.85 million to the Nexen Heroes for his negotiating rights.

Talks between the Twins and Alan Nero, Park’s agent, have commenced with the 30-day negotiating window set to expire Dec. 8.

A sale of Vargas to an Asian club “wouldn’t be in play unless or until we got Park done,” Radcliff said.

Keeping Vargas at Triple-A next season would give the Twins an insurance policy should Park struggle in his transition to the majors. Added to the 40-man roster after the 2013 season, Vargas has one year of minor-league options remaining.

Vargas hit .274 with nine home runs and 38 runs batted in over 53 games in 2014, when he was called up from Double-A in late July after the Twins traded Kendrys Morales. Named the Twins Minor League Player of the Year, Vargas opened last season as the regular designated hitter.

In mid-May, with 30 strikeouts and three home runs through 29 games, he was demoted to Triple-A Rochester. Recalled in June, he lasted just three more weeks before being sent all the way back to Double-A Chattanooga.

Vargas returned to the majors in September but played sparingly. He hit .188 (3 for 16) as the Twins chased a postseason berth to the final weekend of the season.

Playing for Mayaguez in his native Puerto Rico this winter, Vargas homered twice in his second game but had just one other hit in 14 at-bats and four games.

Park, meanwhile, was hitting .227 (5 for 22) with seven strikeouts through six games in the inaugural Premier 12 international tournament. The 29-year-old went 2 for 5 with a leadoff triple that sparked a five-run second inning Monday in South Korea’s 7-2 win over Cuba.

Batting fifth and playing first base, Park has helped his country reach a semifinal rematch on Friday against Japan, which claimed a 5-0 victory over South Korea in the tournament opener on Nov. 8. Park went 2 for 4 in that game after struggling in a two-game exhibition set with Cuba.

Park has homered once in the tournament, a solo shot to right-center off Mexico’s Cesar Carillo in a 4-3 win on Saturday. Park also has a double, three walks and a stolen base.

Slugging outfielder Oswaldo Arcia, who averaged 17 homers in his first two big-league seasons before spending all but 19 games at Triple-A in 2015, has informed the Twins he wouldn’t be willing to play in Asia at this point in his career.

“The player has to agree,” Radcliff said. “He has no interest in doing that. He wants to be a major league star.”

Arcia, 24, is out of minor-league options, meaning he couldn’t be sent back to Triple-A next season without first passing through waivers.

The Pioneer Press is a Forum News Service media partner.

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