Padres Finalize Two-Year Contract With Korean Relief Pitcher Woo Suk Go

San Diego adds more bullpen help to the mix.

The San Diego Padres finalized their contract with Korean relief pitcher Woo Suk Go, the team announced. The deal is for two years and $4.5 million, and it has a mutual option for the 2026 season.

The Padres have a two-year, $4.5 million agreement with Korean reliever Woo Suk Go, as @Joelsherman1 said. The deal includes a mutual option for 2026.

— Dennis Lin (@dennistlin) January 3, 2024

The right-hander has a chance to become the Padres' closer. San Diego has a need to fill with closer Josh Hader hitting free agency. He is not expected to re-sign.

Go has pitched seven seasons in the Korean Baseball Organization, spending the last five years as a closer for the LG Twins. Go has a strong fastball that sits around 95 mph and touches 98. It should transition over well, and he has a strong cutter that could work to his advantage as well.

Over his career, Go has a record of 19-26 with a 3.18 ERA and 139 saves in 354 KBO games. He is still just 25 years old, so there is plenty of time for him to continue growing his game, especially as he gets accustomed to Major League Baseball.

Go has struggled with control at times during his career, walking more than 10 percent of hitters he's faced in four of his seven seasons. If he can refine his control, he will have a chance to take over the high-leverage innings for the Padres.

Japanese reliever Yuki Matsui – to this point the only other major league free agent the Padres have signed this offseason — also has a chance to close in 2024.

In addition to Go's salary, the Padres must pay a release fee in the amount of 20 percent of the contract's value to the LG Twins, Go's former team in Korea:

If that's the final number indeed, then Go's #KBO club, LG Twins, will get $900,000 in release fee from the #Padres (20% of the deal).
The fee is: 20% of the first $25 million in guaranteed value, 17.5% of the next $25 million, and 15% on all amounts above $50 million https://t.co/M5JEtN1kzi

— Jeeho Yoo (@Jeeho_1) January 3, 2024