Orioles to sign Korean Suk-Min Yoon

The Baltimore Orioles and South Korean pitcher Suk-Min Yoon have agreed on a three-year, $5.25 million deal, according to reports.

His salary breakdown has much of an escalator; Yoon will make $750 thousand in 2014, $1.75 million in 2015, and $2.4 million in 2016. Yoon can make up to $1.25 million in incentives every year if he is able to reach a set number of games-started. Yoon can ultimately make up to $13 million in his contract with the Orioles. 

It is hard to know what Yoon will bring to the table in the Major Leagues, thus the incentive bonuses with the Orioles. But, the 27-year-old was a very good pitcher in his team in the Korean Baseball Organization, going 73-59 with a 3.19 ERA and a 1.20 WHIP in his time with the Kia Tigers (2005-2013). Yoon won the KBO MVP in 2011, racking up 17 wins while posting a 2.45 ERA. That season Yoon also posted 178 strikeouts in 172 1/3 innings pitched. 

Yoon pitched for Korea in the 2009 World Baseball Classic, going 2-0 with a 1.13 ERA and 13 strikeouts in 16 innings pitched. 

The Orioles, needing starting pitching help, have been "in" on many different options this offseason, but Yoon is the first notable pitcher they have signed this off-season. The Orioles ranked 27th in starters' ERA in 2013, posting a 4.72 mark. They ranked 22nd in starters' innings pitched as well.