SIGNED: Padres Land Another New Closer

January 03, 2024


After having the luxury of one of baseball‘s top relievers in their bullpen the past season and a half, the San Diego Padres will be losing Josh Hader in free agency anytime now. But according to a report from insider John Heyman, they are set to sign their second new closer of the offseason, again from overseas.

It's a 2-year, $4.5 million deal for Korean righthander Woo Suk Go, and Heyman calls it “Go Time” in San Diego. With undoubtedly the best name in the majors, Go joins Yuki Matsui, who was also signed to a multi-year deal this winter, at the back end of the Friars’ bullpen. Robert Suarez should be in the mix for saves as well in a reconstructed San Diego bullpen.

The 25-year-old Go was the closer for the LG Twins in the Korean league, and has recorded 139 saves in the past five seasons, with a 3.10 ERA and a 1.27 WHIP. Last season, he recorded a career-high 12 strikeouts per nine innings. He has a 401:163 strikeout-to-walk ratio over his career.

Word is, Go took an early flight out of Korea Wednesday morning to sign his new deal in San Diego. Coincidentally, Go is married to the younger sister of another big Korean signing this off-season, San Francisco Giants outfielder Jung-Hoo Lee. That makes for one of the most random bits of baseball trivia, as Go and Lee are about to become the first brothers-in-law from Korea to play in the majors. Go figure.

Go and Matsui (who posted 39 saves last season in Japan) will have some big shoes to fill as Hader recorded 33 saves with a 1.28 ERA this past season for the Padres.

Photo: Ray Acevedo-USA TODAY Sports



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