Right-hander Tomoyuki Sugano and the Baltimore Orioles are in agreement on a one-year, $13 million contract, sources tell ESPN. Sugano, 35, was one of the best pitchers in Japanese baseball this year, posting a 1.67 ERA and walking 16 against 111 strikeouts over 156.2 innings.
The Orioles sign Tomoyuki Sugano to a one-year deal
Photo credit: © Tommy Gilligan - USA Today
Dec 16, 2024, 22:00 ESTUpdated: Dec 16, 2024, 21:44 EST
Even the Baltimore Orioles are signing free agents.
According to ESPN’s Jeff Passan, the Orioles signed right-handed pitcher Tomoyuki Sugano to a one-year, $13 million deal on Monday evening.
This isn’t the first free agent the Orioles signed so far this off-season, as they agreed to a three-year, $49.5 million deal with Canadian outfielder Tyler O’Neill. Two of their players on the 2024 roster, Corbin Burnes and Anthony Santander, are still available on the market.
As for Sugano, the 35-year-old has spent his entire career in Japan with the Yomiuri Giants of Nippon Professional Baseball. Last season, he had a 1.67 ERA in 156.2 innings pitched, with an 18.3 K% and a 2.6 BB%.
While the 2024 season was terrific for Sugano, it wasn’t his career year. Back in 2017, the righty had a 1.59 ERA in 187.1 innings pitched, with a 24 K% and a 4.4 BB%. For his entire career in NPB, Sugano had a 2.43 ERA in 1857 innings pitched, with a 21.4 K% and a 4.7 BB%.
Sugano isn’t the only Japanese pitcher that has been posted this off-season. Last week, 27-year-old left-handed pitcher Shinnosuke Ogasawara was officially posted by the Chunichi Dragons of NPB. Last season, he had a 3.12 ERA in 144.1 innings pitched, with a career ERA of 3.62 in 951.1 innings pitched.
Another pitcher, righty Koyo Aoyagi, was posted recently as well. Last season, he had a 3.69 ERA in 61 innings pitched, along with a career ERA of 3.08 in 898.1 innings pitched.
Of course, there’s also Rōki Sasaki, one of the best young pitchers in the world. Last season, he had a 2.35 ERA in 111 innings pitched, with a 28.7 K% and a 7.1 BB%. For his career, he has a 2.10 ERA in 394.2 innings pitched with a 32.7 K% and a 5.7 BB%. Aside from maybe Burnes, Sasaki is the best starting pitcher remaining on the market, and he has the potential to be one of the game’s best pitchers in the league. Sasaki is expected to sign in mid-January when each team’s international free agency bonus pool resets.
The Orioles got better on Monday, now it’s time for the Toronto Blue Jays to do something. Hopefully, they can sign former Orioles in Burnes or Santander at some point soon.
As always, you can follow me on Bluesky @ryleydelaney.bsky.social.
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