MLB Rumors: Woo Suk Go, Padres Nearing Contract in Free Agency Pending Medical Review

The San Diego Padres have reportedly reached an agreement with another international free-agent pitcher.

According to Joel Sherman of The New York Post, South Korean right-hander Woo Suk Go agreed to a two-year, $4.5 million deal with the Padres.

Jon Heyman of The New York Post and MLB Network previously reported the two sides were “close” to a deal that will likely make him their closer.

MLB Network’s Jon Morosi had added the deal was pending a review of Go’s medical records.

In a preview of the 2023 World Baseball Classic, Ted Baarda of Sports Info Solutions noted Go has the “hardest throwing relief arm in the KBO” with a fastball that touches 98 mph and three different breaking balls that “overlap in shape and velocity.”

The Twins posted Go for MLB teams in December after he requested the move.

San Diego has been one of the most active teams on the international market this offseason. The team signed Yuki Matsui to a five-year deal in December. The Japanese left-hander served as the closer for the Rakuten Golden Eagles for 10 seasons.

Pitching was a significant area of need for the Padres this winter. They have already lost 391 innings from their 2023 staff with Nick Martinez, Seth Lugo and Michael Wacha signing with new teams in free agency.

That doesn’t even include the expected losses of reigning NL Cy Young winner Blake Snell (180 innings in 2023) and closer Josh Hader (56.1 innings) since both players are free agents.

Given the financial limitations imposed by ownership after last year’s spending spree, Padres general manager A.J. Preller is doing a good job of adding talented players at a fairly reasonable cost to provide a boost to their pitching staff.

Go has spent the past seven seasons pitching for the LG Twins in the KBO. He owns a 3.18 ERA, 1.27 WHIP, 401 strikeouts and 139 saves in 354 games since 2017.