While the O’s continue to play the waiting game with Corbin Burnes, they signed reigning Central League MVP Tomoyuki Sugano from Japan.
Good morning, Camden Chatters.
Well, the Orioles finally did what fans have been clamoring for them to do all winter: they signed a starting pitcher. It’s just…maybe not who you’d expect.
The O’s went overseas to add a hurler, signing 35-year-old right-hander Tomoyuki Sugano, a 12-year veteran of Nippon Professional Baseball in Japan, to a one-year, $13 million deal. Sugano is a three-time Central League MVP, including this most recent season, in which he went 15-3 and posted a spotless 1.67 ERA. He’s making the jump to the States after spending his entire pro career with the Yomiuri Giants, with whom he was an eight-time All-Star, two-time strikeout leader and a four-time winner of the ERA title.
It’s easy to see what the Orioles like about him. Sugano is known for his impeccable command, as evidenced by his 0.9 walk rate in 2024 and 1.7 in his career. He walked only 16 batters in 156.2 innings this season. He carries a five-pitch mix that could translate well to Major League Baseball.
On the other hand, a 35-year-old MLB newcomer whose fastball averages about 92 mph is a risk, to be sure. If Sugano’s command slips even slightly, or is less effective against major league hitters, he doesn’t really have the velocity to make up for it. It’s why, despite his prolific NPB career, he forecasts as more of a mid- to back-end starter than an ace in the bigs.
Taken by itself, the Sugano signing certainly seems like a reasonable gamble. He gives the O’s an experienced arm to add to their rotation mix, and there’s no such thing as a bad one-year contract. But by no means should this be considered the end of the Orioles’ starting pitching search. The O’s still need a front-line hurler to keep pace with the recently upgraded Yankees and Red Sox rotations. The Orioles’ pursuit of Corbin Burnes or another ace should continue full speed ahead, Sugano or not.
It’s an intriguing addition. But it definitely shouldn’t be the last one.
Links
Tomoyuki Sugano signs 1-year contract with Orioles – MLB.com
Jake Rill has more details about Sugano, who will become the third Japanese-born player in O’s history. Roki Sasaki, it’s not too late for you to become the fourth.
Boras on Orioles’ pursuit of Corbin Burnes: It ‘boils down to ownership’ – The Baltimore Banner
In which Scott Boras practically begs David Rubenstein to throw lots of money at Corbin Burnes. As much as I hate to agree with Scott Boras…
Hyde excited about Orioles’ new coaching lineup – BaltimoreBaseball.com
Don’t forget the Orioles have some new coaches, too! Brandon Hyde thinks they’ll do an excellent job, even if one of them might take his place if the O’s get off to a lousy start (he didn’t say that part).
O’s Matt Blood talks about the offense on the farm this past season – Blog
The Orioles’ player development VP said the club is “not celebrating” the offensive struggles their minor league teams had this year, though he doesn’t have a specific answer for how they’ll improve. I’m not celebrating that response.
O’Neill on Orioles: “They’ve got a really good thing going on right now” – School of Roch
Tyler O’Neill, excited to join the Orioles, says he has “confidence in [his] body” to be a productive player. I suppose I can see why.
Orioles birthdays and history
Is today your birthday? Happy birthday! Four ex-Orioles were born on this day: left-hander Fernando Abad (39), righty Stu Pomeranz (40), and infielders Álex Cintrón (46) and the late Jerry Adair (b. 1936, d. 1987).
On this date in 1953, the Baltimore Orioles made their first trade since the franchise relocated from St. Louis earlier that offseason, acquiring former All-Star righty Joe Coleman from the Phillies. Coleman became one of the Birds’ best starters on an otherwise terrible 100-loss team in their debut season.
Historically, Dec. 17 has been a day for the O’s to sign relief pitchers who turned out to be damaged goods. On this date in 1998, they announced the signing of veteran righty Xavier Hernandez to a two-year deal, only to try to back out of it after his physical revealed a torn rotator cuff. Hernandez filed a grievance and the O’s agreed to pay him $1.75 million of his original $2.75 million contract. He never pitched again.
And in 2013, the O’s agreed to terms on a two-year, $15 million deal with closer Grant Balfour, until — guess what? — his physical came up wonky and the Orioles backed away. Balfour ended up signing with the Rays, where he struggled to a 5.00 ERA in parts of two seasons before retiring.