March 21, 2017; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Japan pitcher Tomoyuki Sugano (11) throws against USA in the first inning during the 2017 World Baseball Classic at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

mlb

Orioles sign Japanese MVP Tomoyuki Sugano to 1-year, $13M deal

Orioles sign Japanese ace Sugano for $13M deal

The Orioles just made a move. A smart one. They signed Tomoyuki Sugano, a veteran pitcher straight out of Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB), for one year and $13 million. It’s official. The team announced it Monday night.

The Orioles sign 35 year old RHP Tomoyuki Sugano, who pitched to a 1.67 ERA in Japan last season pic.twitter.com/1qZ0wHdczv
— Talkin’ Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) December 17, 2024

Now, if you know anything about NPB, you know Sugano. He’s not just a good pitcher; he’s a decorated one. Eight All-Star nods. Two Sawamura Awards—basically Japan’s Cy Young. Three MVPs. A career 2.45 ERA in 12 seasons with the Yomiuri Giants.

This past year, Sugano was ridiculous. 1.67 ERA, 111 strikeouts, 16 walks in 156 2/3 innings. He knows how to throw. Sure, his fastball hovers around 92 mph, but the man commands the zone. Cutter, slider, splitter, curveball—he’s got them all. And he uses them. Almost 74% of his pitches last season were off-speed.

Sugano’s history with MLB

This isn’t Sugano’s first flirtation with the majors. Back in the 2020-21 offseason, Yomiuri posted him, and he tried to make the jump. But no deal. He stayed in Japan and kept doing his thing. Now, as a free agent, there’s no red tape, no posting system rules. Baltimore stepped in and got their man.

The @Orioles have signed RHP Tomoyuki Sugano to a one-year contract.

In 12 years in NPB, Sugano was an 8-time All-Star, two-time Sawamura Award winner, and a three-time Central League MVP. pic.twitter.com/FMmYNbDOsy
— MLB (@MLB) December 17, 2024

He’s only the third Japanese-born player in Orioles history. The first? Koji Uehara. The most recent? Shintaro Fujinami. Sugano’s about to join that list.

What does this mean for Baltimore’s rotation?

It’s depth. It’s stability. You don’t sign a guy like Sugano for fireworks. You sign him because you need someone to get outs.

Baltimore’s rotation for 2025 might look like this:

Zach Eflin
Grayson Rodriguez
Dean Kremer
Tomoyuki Sugano
Cade Povich

It’s a solid mix. There’s still Albert Suárez, Chayce McDermott, and Trevor Rogers in the background. And right-handers Kyle Bradish and Tyler Wells will miss the start of the season, both rehabbing from elbow surgeries.

What about Corbin Burnes?

This move doesn’t mean Baltimore is done. It doesn’t mean they’re out on Burnes. But Burnes is expensive. More than $200 million expensive. And if the Orioles want to bring him back, they’ll have to go beyond Chris Davis’ franchise-record $161 million deal.

MLB should have a free agency time period

Opens at 12 AM on the Monday of the winter meetings, closes December 31st at 3 pm.

No one wants to wait until March to find out where Corbin Burnes is going.
— DodgersMemeTeam WORLD CHAMPS (@DodgersMemeTeam) December 12, 2024

Still, Baltimore is spending more than it has in years. They’ve dropped $71 million this offseason:

Tyler O’Neill: 3 years, $49.5 million
Gary Sánchez: 1 year, $8.5 million
Tomoyuki Sugano: 1 year, $13 million

It’s a start.

Sugano’s role is clear

He’s not here to carry the rotation. That’s not who he is. At 35, Sugano’s stuff plays more to the mid-to-back-end of the rotation. But that’s what Baltimore needs. A guy who’s reliable. A guy who can eat innings. A guy with 12 years of professional experience and the numbers to back it. And Baltimore knows that if it wants to keep up in the AL East and make another postseason run, these moves matter.

Sugano’s here now. One year. $13 million. It’s his time to show what he’s got in Camden Yards.

Orioles sign Tomoyuki Sugano

Tomoyuki Sugano

Tomoyuki Sugano Orioles

Natasha Bose

I write about sports because, well, it brings in the big bucks! I’m not some lifelong analyst or stats guru, truth being told, you’ve probably never heard of me!—I just know how to research, write, and make things sound good. That’s the job!
Got into sports media the same way most people do: by (fortunate) accident. Started with SEO writing, took on a few sports gigs, and now here we are! I cover games, trades, player drama—whatever needs words.
Favorite part? The chaos. One day it’s a blockbuster trade, the next it’s a goat running onto the field. Never boring.
Message to readers: If you want deep analysis, there are people for that. If you want sharp, no-BS writing that actually makes sense, stick around.