Cardinals Sign KBO Saves Leader Seung-Hwan Oh

The Cardinals have signed 33 year-old RHP Seung-Hwan Oh to a one year deal. With the deal including an option for the 2017 season, the deal could be worth as much as $5MM. Oh, nicknamed 'The Final Boss' and 'Stone Buddha', is the Korean Baseball Organization (KBO) all-time saves leader, compiling 277 saves from 2005 to 2013. In 2014, Oh moved to Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) and recorded 80 saves. Oh owns a career record of 32-20 with a 1.97 ERA and 772 strikeouts. Oh will most likely slide into the setup role behind Cardinals closer Trevor Rosenthal and will wear #26.

Oh is an 8-time All-Star, 5-time Relief Man Award winner, Rookie of the Year winner in 2005, 5-time Korean Series Champion, 2-time Korean Series MVP, and was an Asia Series Champion in 2011. Oh also led the NPB in saves both years he pitched there. St. Louis and Oh have been in agreement for some time, but Oh was suspended by the NPB for casual gambling, which he did not know was illegal. Oh had several offers from other MLB teams, but chose the Cardinals. This is the first time that St. Louis has signed an Asian free agent since So Taguchi was signed in 2002. The Cardinals have been scouting Oh since 2009.