The Baltimore Orioles have finally added some reinforcements to a pitching staff that is currently without free agent Corbin Burnes. However, it seems to be more of the same type of pitcher the Orioles have added over the years. It’s not the front-line replacement they need with the potential departure of Burnes. According to Jeff Passan, Baltimore dipped into the international pool, with right-hander Tomoyuki Sogano signing with the club for one-year and $13 million. Sogano will make his first foray into MLB, coming over from Japan’s NPB.
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.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) December 17, 2024
The Book on the Tomoyuki Sogano Signing
Sogsano, 35, is a longtime star of the NPB. He could have made the jump to MLB when he was 30. There was plenty of interest from MLB clubs, but he decided to sign a four-year deal with the Yomiuri Giants. Having opt-outs after every season likely means that Sogano was just fine dominating the NPB. After this past season, he became an international free agent. That means he isn’t subject to the normal posting rules like Shohei Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, and soon-to-be Roki Sasaki. The Orioles are only responsible for his $13 million contract.
While most pitchers tend to fall off as they age, Sogano has found a way to be extremely effective in Japan. He’s coming off a year where he put up a 1.78 ERA across 156.2 innings. Baseball America profiles him as a fourth or fifth starter. That may make sense as the swing-and-miss stuff has never fully been there for Sogano. They also state that he owns an above-average slider and splitter. The splitter is one of the pitches we see prominently featured in Japan and the pitchers that make the jump to MLB.
All told, Sogano leaves Japan with 1,857 innings under his belt, with a 2.45 ERA to go with it. While his 1,596 strikeouts in the NPB suggest that Sogano might struggle in a strikeout-dominated league like MLB, there is still a place for a starter to eat innings and pitch to contact with success.
The Fit for the Orioles
It was thought that Baltimore might spend this offseason after a crushing fall-off in the back half of the 2024 season and a new regime. However, it remains to be seen. They’re poised to lose Burnes to free agency, and outside of signing Tyler O’Neill, the team hasn’t added at all.
With Zach Eflin, Grayson Rodriguez, Dean Kremer, Cade Povich, and Trevor Rogers listed atop the depth chart, the Sogano signing is a step in the right direction. The offense carried the load last season, landing fourth among all of MLB in runs scored. It’s a good sign that the Orioles seem willing to invest in the pitching, even if it’s a minor addition like the Sogano signing.
Last season with Burnes, the Orioles starters managed a top-five ERA in MLB. However, it becomes increasingly unlikely that the Orioles will meet what’s necessary to bring Burnes back. That means his 2.92 ERA wouldn’t factor into that top-five staff. This may especially be true after Max Fried received $218 million over eight years from the New York Yankees. The Orioles will look to the Sogano signing for some added value. If Sogano can adjust to MLB and create soft contact as he does in Japan, the Orioles may have found a diamond in the rough for the back end of their rotation.
The AL East Arms Race
Time will tell if the Orioles wade into the higher-end of starting pitchers. However, with their window being pushed open by young, talented hitters, they may be forced to join in the AL East arms race. With the Yankees adding Fried and closer Devin Williams and the Boston Red Sox acquiring Garrett Crochet from the Chicago White Sox, the Orioles will need to do more. That’s if they want a chance to contend for a division title and the ultimate goal – a World Series trophy.
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