Blue Jays: Could Seung-hwan Oh be a bargain?

Now that Seung-hwan Oh’s contract with the Texas Rangers has fallen through, should the Blue Jays inquire about a cheap, one year contract?

Right handed relief pitcher Seung-hwan Oh, also known as the “Final Boss” during his Korean days, was stricken with some bad luck recently when his rumoured one year deal with the Texas Rangers fell through when the club’s front office found imperfect results in Oh’s recent MRI.

Before the contract termination with the Rangers, Oh had been a rather interesting case and was expected to fetch a decent deal when he hit the free agent market this offseason.

Oh struggled a bit in 2017, but put together a spectacular debut season in North America when he pitched to a 1.92 ERA in 79.2 innings for the Cardinals in 2016. He also closed out some games for the Cards, racking up 19 saves in 76 games.

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Although his recent medical reports are concerning to say the least, it’s possible that he could become a bargain to be signed to a minor league contract. With his closing experience overseas and a powerful veteran presence, he could make a valuable addition to a bullpen on the brink of contention.

With some question marks in their current bullpen setup, it would be more than worthwhile for the Blue Jays front office to take a look at the most celebrated Korean closer in baseball history.

Oh’s extensive pitch repertoire, which contains an unusual splitter and a nasty slider, could serve as a stark contrast to the hard throwing styles of Roberto Osuna and Ryan Tepera, while his solid, quick delivery will be a welcomed addition to the pen.

According to Oh’s agent, the inflammation in his elbow is not that different to that of Shohei Otani, who was still able to secure a deal despite some medical concerns.

The above article, written in Oh’s native Korean, reports that Oh has been dealing with these minor issues since 2014, and he doesn’t expect to require any serious medical treatment. While concerning, these problems are understandable given Oh’s long history as a professional ballplayer, and may become a regular part of the transition to North American baseball.

At this point, it’s unknown whether or not Oh’s camp would accept a minor league deal. Still, the bad publicity of the Rangers situation has undoubtedly lowered his stock on the free agent market.

Next: The Jays bullpen as things currently stand

Regardless of what’s in store for the veteran from Jeongeup, South Korea, the Jays should definitely check in and try and snag him for a spot in their currently incomplete bullpen. While it could be perceived as a bit of a “risk”, it could be a risk well worth taking for the Blue Jays.