St. Louis Cardinals: Seung-hwan Oh is a Steal
St. Louis Cardinals closer, Seung-hwan Oh, finished his 30th game of the season on September 9th against the Milwaukee Brewers. Now, his 2017 club option has vested and it is quite the bargain.
Seung-hwan Oh emigrated to the MLB after 11 seasons between the Korean Baseball Organization (KBO) and Japan Central League (JPCL). In the span of those 11 seasons, he posted a 1.81 ERA, 0.85 WHIP, and 5.18 K/BB. With consistently exceptional performances in late-game situations, Oh earned a number of nicknames but one has stuck since moving to the MLB: “The Final Boss.” Now, he is one of the biggest steals of the winter.
In the offseason of 2016, Oh signed a one-year deal with the St. Louis Cardinals for $2.5 million that could total $5 million after incentives. In addition to the one-year deal, the contract included a team option for a second year worth $2.75 million that can total $6 million with bonuses. Regardless of how much the St. Louis Cardinals end up paying Oh, it will be a bargain.
The “Final Boss” currently ranks 13th in ERA (1.87), fourth among relievers in innings (72 1/3) and 12th in strikeouts per nine innings (12.07). He also ranks eighth in strikeout-to-walk percentage at 27.9 with 2.24 walks per nine innings ratio.
Oh emerged as the Cardinals closer this season when previous 40-save reliever, Trevor Rosenthal, experienced extreme difficulty this season. Unfortunately for the Cardinals, Rosenthal went from one of MLB’s best closers from 2012 to 2015 to now having a 5.13 ERA over 33 1/3 innings. His sudden tendency to give up more walks and home runs than ever in his career led to Oh taking over the 9th inning role in July. Since then, Oh has recorded 17 saves through 19 opportunities. At the end of July, Rosenthal was placed on the disabled list with a rotator cuff injury. His return is expected soon.
Oh’s contract is important because baseball is in an era where top-tier relievers are cashing in on high paying contracts. Many of the relievers paid highly aren’t closers but still receive contracts as if they are. Furthermore, if the 2016 offseason contracts for relief pitchers are analyzed, Oh’s 2016 contract and his option for 2017 stand out as an incredible bargain.
| PLAYER | SIGNING TEAM | YEARS | AMOUNT | 2016 IP | 2016 ERA |
| John Axford | Athletics | 2 | $10 M | 57.1 | 4.40 |
| Antonio Bastardo | Mets | 2 | $12 M | 60.1 | 4.18 |
| Steve Cishek | Mariners | 2 | $10 M | 56.2 | 3.18 |
| Tyler Clippard | Diamondbacks | 2 | $12.25 M | 55.0 | 3.11 |
| Shawn Kelley | Nationals | 3 | $15 M | 50.1 | 3.04 |
| Mark Lowe | Tigers | 2 | $13 M | 45.0 | 7.40 |
| Ryan Madson | Athletics | 3 | $22 M | 58.2 | 3.07 |
| Jason Motte | Rockies | 2 | $10 M | 20.2 | 5.66 |
| Darren O’Day | Orioles | 4 | $31 M | 27.1 | 3.95 |
| Tony Sipp | Astros | 3 | $18 M | 38.0 | 5.45 |
| Joakim Soria | Royals | 3 | $25 M | 62.0 | 4.06 |
Obviously, some of the relievers listed have struggled this season. However, all of them recevied top dollar. Compared to these 2016 signings, the signing of Oh for $2.5 million looks like a no-brainer. Furthermore, not only was the original signing of Oh a great call, but the 2017 option ($2.75M) is ingenious.
In nearly every important pitching statistic, Seung-hwan Oh ranks near the top. In addition to his above average strikeout rate, his below average walk rate has enabled him to be in the elite class of relievers this season. And while he attacks batters with a fastball-slider combo, neither pitch blows people away. His fastball sits in the low 90’s and his slider remains in the mid 80’s with average horizontal movement. Oh also throws a change-up but relies on that less than the slider.
Oh is not the new breed of high-90’s throwing relievers. Moreover, he does not have the best individual pitches. Yet, he still produces a swinging-strike rate of 69.6% through his incredible command. Therefore, his incredibly well-located fastball, slider, and change-up make for a successful repertoire. Oh’s recipe for success is the same as it has been through his past 11 seasons of professional baseball.
It’s baffling that other MLB teams didn’t express strong interest in signing him after his 11 dominant seasons in Japan and Korea. It could’ve been due to age, or the belief his pitches weren’t good enough for the big leagues. Either way, 29 other MLB teams passed on Seung-hwan Oh before he found a home in St. Louis. And like they seem to always do, the Cardinals found themselves a gem. They also happened to sign him at a fraction of the cost compared to a number of relievers.
Currently, the second Wild Card position is up for grabs between the St. Louis Cardinals and New York Mets with the San Francisco Giants no lock as the first wild card. All three teams are neck and neck as the season winds down.