Blue Jays sign Seung-Hwan Oh

The Blue Jays and reliever Seung-Hwan Oh have agreed to a one-year deal, Robert Murray of FanRag Sports reports.

It was later reported that the deal will guaranteed the 35-year-old $2 million, with a vesting option for the 2019 season valued at $2.5 million.

Oh was originally thought to be heading down to Texas earlier in the month, but a physical showed inflammation in his pitching elbow that motivated the Rangers to cancel their original agreement. Oh’s camp refused to alter the $2.75 million that was guaranteed to Oh, so the deal fell through.

As a reliever with the Cardinals over the past two seasons, Oh pitched 2.85 ERA, though his short 2016 showing was much better than his performance last season. In his taste of the major leagues, Oh recorded a 1.92 ERA over 79 ²⁄₃ innings with a 2.13 FIP. Those numbers escalated to 4.10 and 4.44 respectively last season, while his home run rate rose from 0.6 to 1.5, causing Oh to lose the closer’s job he earned a season prior.

The Blue Jays, who ranked 24th in baseball last season in bullpen WAR, hope that Oh was just experiencing a sophomore slump and will return to the form that made him the most dominant closer in Korea.

Roberto Osuna will handle closer duties for the Blue Jays, but Oh will be in competition for a setup role when the season begins.