'C-grade free agent' Oh Seung-hwan's best plan, 2-year contrac
On the 15th, KBO announced the list of players eligible for free agency in 2024. There are a total of 34 players eligible for free agency in 2024. By FA grade, there are 8 grade A, 14 grade B, and 12 grade C. Among these, there are 12 players who obtained FA status for the first time, 8 players who were re-qualified, and 14 players who had already obtained FA status but maintained their status without applying for FA approval. Oh Seung-hwan (Samsung), the ‘final leader’ who became the first player in the KBO League to make 400 career saves, was classified as C grade.
After graduating from Gyeonggi High School and Dankook University, he began his professional career wearing a Samsung uniform in 2005. In his third year of joining the team in 2007, he achieved the fewest games and shortest season with 100 saves, and simultaneously broke the records for the fewest games and youngest player in 2009 and 2011. They completed 150 and 200 saves, respectively. In particular, his 200 saves, achieved in 334 games, was a new world record for fewest games.
In addition, Oh Seung-hwan achieved 250, 300, 350, and 400 saves for the first time in the KBO League, setting a record in the save category that no one can match. From 2014 to 2019, despite being away from the KBO league for a whopping six years due to overseas expansion, he piled up saves at an incredible rate. Last June, he also set a record of 500 saves in Korea, the United States, and Japan.
Oh Seung-hwan's record is thanks to his consistent saves that allowed him to win the category title six times, the most ever. Seung-hwan Oh not only set a record of 40 saves in the KBO League's oldest season in 2021, but also recorded 20 or more saves a total of 9 times.
Due to his performance below expectations this season, not only was he evaluated as 'out of fashion', but there were even rumors of his retirement. Oh Seung-hwan was not going to collapse like this. Oh Seung-hwan, who ended the first half of the season with 2 wins, 3 losses, 10 saves, and 2 holds (average ERA 4.80), regained stability in the second half with 2 wins, 2 losses, 20 saves, and 2 holds (average ERA 2.20), and gradually maintained the team's victory. Seung-Hwan Oh achieved his 400th career save for the first time in the KBO by pitching 1⅓ scoreless innings in the final home game against SSG on the 14th of last month.
Oh Seung-hwan, who qualified as a free agent after this season, expressed his intention to remain with the club. He opened a negotiation table and shared opinions. Seung-Hwan Oh is an indispensable figure at Samsung. Although he is nowhere near his prime, there is no one in sight who can protect the back door in Oh Seung-hwan's place. In fact, this season, left-hander Seung-Hyeon Lee was entrusted with the firefighter role instead of Seung-Hwan Oh, but he did not achieve satisfactory results.
Lee Seung-hyun, who never imagined that he would throw behind senior Seung-hwan Oh, whom he had admired since childhood, said, "It was a very great experience for me. Who would have thought that I would throw behind senior Seung-hwan? It was truly an honor." He added, "I did well as they gave me a good opportunity." “I had a strong desire to do it, but not everyone can do it. Every time I took the mound, I felt that senior Seunghwan was truly amazing,” he said.
Samsung, which had difficulty using the mound this season due to a weak pitching lineup, is known to be planning to recruit bullpen personnel in the free agent market. Seung-Hwan Oh must be arrested separately from external blood transfusion. Starting in 2021, he has made 30 saves for three consecutive years and is still a key resource for the first team, showing his skills without rust. 'Living Legend' Oh Seung-hwan is a true leader in the locker room who can make a big impact not only in the pitching team but also in the entire team.
In a gradual generational change, veteran players like Oh Seung-hwan must provide time for young players to grow. This means that Oh Seung-hwan is needed until young guns such as Kim Yun-soo, Yang Chang-seop, and Lee Jae-hee, who will be responsible for the future of the Samsung mound, return after completing their military service and settle down on the first team stage. A two-year contract seems more appropriate than his one-year contract.
All of Samsung's previous retired players, including Lee Man-soo (No. 22), Yang Jun-hyuk (No. 10), and Lee Seung-yeop (No. 36), were batsmen. Oh Seung-hwan is fully qualified to become the club's first pitcher to retire permanently. Not to mention his individual achievements, he played a decisive role in winning the Korean Series five times in 2005, 2006, 2011, 2012, and 2013. If Seung-hwan Oh does not become the star of a permanent retirement, it is safe to say that he will not be a candidate for permanent retirement among Samsung pitchers in the future.
Consideration and concessions are needed for both sides to find an amicable agreement at the negotiating table. Oh Seung-hwan should also know that it is not easy to receive this season's annual salary (1.8 billion won), and the club should not denigrate Oh Seung-hwan's value just because he is older.
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