Cardinals sign Seung-Hwan Oh

The St. Louis Cardinals announced the signing of Korean right-handed relief pitcher Seung-Hwan Oh to a one-year deal with a club option for 2017. 

According to Jeeho Yoo of Yonhap News, Oh will make $5 million in 2016 and a possible $6 million on the club option if picked up. If all maxed out, Oh will be with St. Louis for two seasons at an $11 million total guarantee. 

Daniel Kim of KBSn first reported that the sides were close to an agreement and Robert Murray of Baseball Essential reported the finalization of the deal, noting that the announcement of the contract would come today. 

The Cardinals will not have to pay a posting fee for the signing of Oh, as he was named a free agent by Major League Baseball. 

The 33-year-old Oh comes from from the Hanshin Tigers of Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball league, but has spent most of his career in Korea, where he is originally from. 

In 2015, his second season in Japan, Oh went 2-3 with a 2.73 ERA and a 66 to 16 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 69 1/3 innings pitched, tallying 41 saves. Over his entire international career, Oh boasts a minuscule 1.81 ERA and fantastic 10.7 K/9 and 2.1 BB/9 ratios in 646 1/3 innings. Oh was considered to be one of the greatest closers in Korean professional baseball. 

According to a scouting report from Global Sporting Integration in 2013, Oh's repertoire on the mound includes the likes of a fastball that ranges from 92-94 mph, topping out at 97. It is known as the "stone fastball" due to alleged rising movement. He also has a slider and occasionally a slow curveball. 

Oh, known as "The Final Boss," in Korea, will head to the back end of the Cardinals' bullpen that was a weakness for them in terms of depth in 2015, with four relievers making over 70 appearances. Oh will set up to closer Trevor Rosenthal. 

--Devan Fink

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