BOSTON — With all the emphasis on Japanese pitcher Masahiro Tanaka and which team he signs with, Oh Seung-Hwan, a Korean right-hander, is also drawing attention.
The Yankees are among the MLB clubs that have scouted the 31-year-old reliever who is a seven-time All Star in the Korean Baseball Organization and has spent nine years with the Samsung Lions.
Like Tanaka, Oh has to go through the posting process which won’t begin until Nov. 1.
According to reports, Oh’s fastball is between 94 and 96 mph and he has a splitter that disappears. The 5-foot-10, 208-pound right-hander was 4-1 with a 1.74 ERA and saved 28 games.
With Joba Chamberlain definitely gone, Boone Logan likely going and David Robertson getting a chance at replacing the retired Mariano Rivera, the Yankees are going to need relievers.
Shawn Kelley impressed in his first season as a Yankee and could pitch in front of Robertson or whoever is the closer.
David Phelps and Adam Warren are built more for long relief or an occasional start. Preston Claiborne proved he can be of help in the sixth or seventh inning.
The posting price for Oh won’t be the same as Tanaka, a 24-year-old starter for the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles. Industry sources expect the highest posting bid for Tanaka to be in the $60 million range with the winner then having to negotiate a contract with him.
Tanaka was 24-0 with a 1.27 ERA this past season. In seven seasons for the Golden Eagles he is 99-35 with a 2.30 ERA.
The Mariners will start hunting for a manager after the World Series ends. While they haven’t asked the Yankees permission to talk to Rob Thomson, the third base coach is on the Mariners list.
Thomson’s contract expires Nov. 1 so the Mariners won’t need permission to talk to him if he hasn’t re-signed with the Yankees by then.