The Padres continued to strengthen their bullpen with the addition of Korean closer Woo Seok Go, as the two countries agreed to a two-year contract, the team confirmed Wednesday.
The contract is worth $4.5 million. Reported by reporter Joel Sherman..
This is the second major international bullpen addition San Diego has made this winter after acquiring Japanese left-hander Hiroki Matsui.
The move will help strengthen the team's back end after Josh Hader, Nick Martinez and Luis Garcia hit free agency.
Go's contract with the Padres includes a mutual option for 2026. According to Dennis Lin of The Athletic:.
The relief pitcher will earn $1.75 million in the first year of the contract and $2.25 million in the second year. According to Hayashi.
The third-year option has a $500,000 buyout and is worth $3 million.
Because Go played less than nine seasons in the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO), the Padres would have to pay the LG Twins a release fee to sign the right-handed pitcher.
Go is the brother-in-law of center fielder Jeong Fu Lee, who San Diego expressed interest in and signed with the San Francisco Giants earlier this offseason.
The 25-year-old right-hander is an experienced closer with 139 saves, a 3.18 ERA, and 401 strikeouts in 368 1/3 innings over seven seasons.
The Post's Jon Heyman reports. On Tuesday, Go announced he was close to signing with San Diego and was “likely to be their closer.”
The Padres also have right-handers Robert Suarez and Matsui, who could also be options for late-inning roles.
Although San Diego entered the season with hopes of winning the World Series, they were unable to advance to the postseason and ended the season disappointingly.
