LG Twins conditionally agree to post pitcher Go Woo-suk for MLB clubs

LG Twins closer Go Woo-suk pitches against the KT Wiz during Game 3 of the Korean Series at KT Wiz Park in Suwon, Gyeonggi Province, Nov. 10. Yonhap

The Korean baseball champions LG Twins said Wednesday they will post closer Go Woo-suk for Major League Baseball (MLB) clubs, though with one condition — the money has to be right.

MLB tendered a status check on the 25-year-old pitcher last week, a formal step for big league clubs before they can sign a player from the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO). It was only at that point that Go's intention to take his talent to the majors became public. Even the Twins were said to have been caught off guard by interest from MLB and Go's desire to move overseas.

Once a KBO player is posted, MLB teams will have a 30-day window in which to make offers and negotiate a deal. And under an agreement between the KBO and MLB, that player's former KBO team receives a "release fee" for losing him to an MLB club, depending on the value of the player's contract.

If the guaranteed value of the deal — not counting a signing bonus or incentives — is $25 million or less, the release fee will be 20 percent of the contract. If the contract is worth between $25,000,001 and $50 million, the fee will be 20 percent of the first $25 million, plus 17.5 percent of any amount exceeding that $25 million.

If a player signs for more than $50 million, his former KBO team will receive 20 percent of the first $25 million ($5 million) and 17.5 percent of the next $25 million ($4,375,000), plus 15 percent of the amount exceeding $50 million.

Go became eligible for posting this winter after completing his equivalent of seven full seasons in the KBO. A full season equals 145 days spent on the active roster.

Go missed some time this season with injuries, but up to 30 days spent on the injured list still count toward their time on the active roster. Go also earned an additional 16 days of service time by playing for South Korea at the Asian Games this fall, and he ended up with 176 days on the active roster this year.

Go only logged 100 days on the active roster as a rookie in 2017, the only season in which he failed to reach 145 days. However, Go received a total of 105 additional days for playing for Korea at various international tournaments, including the Olympics in 2021 and the World Baseball Classic and the Asian Games this year. Go is allowed to take however many days necessary from his international play and add them to his KBO service time to meet 145.

LG Twins closer Go Woo-suk pitches against the KT Wiz during Game 5 of the Korean Series at Jamsil Baseball Stadium in Seoul, Nov. 13. Yonhap

Go has been one of the KBO's top closers since taking on that role in 2019, two years after his debut. He has recorded 139 saves from 2019 to 2023, more than any other closer in that span. He has struck out 334 batters and walked 115 in 275 1/3 innings across those five seasons. His 2.39 ERA is also the lowest among all closers in the 2019-2023 period.

The right-hander is also one of the hardest-throwing relievers in the KBO. In 2023, according to the KBO statistics site Statiz, Go averaged 152.5 kph with his fastball — tops among all relievers with at least 40 innings pitched.

Go's brother-in-law and Kiwoom Heroes outfielder Lee Jung-hoo, the 2022 KBO regular season MVP, is expected to be posted this offseason too. MLB also tendered a status check on Lee last week. (Yonhap)