Tomoyuki Sugano, Orioles in agreement on 1-year deal: Source

Former Nippon Professional Baseball right-hander Tomoyuki Sugano and the Baltimore Orioles are successful statement connected a one-year, $13 cardinal contract, a convention root confirmed to The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal. Sugano, 35, was projected by The Athletic’s Tim Britton for a one-year $11 cardinal deal, and was classed arsenic the No. 35 free supplier connected The Athletic’s Big Board.

Source confirms: Japanese free-agent RHP Tomoyuki Sugano successful statement pinch Orioles connected one-year, $13M contract. First: @JeffPassan

— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) December 17, 2024

Because Sugano had much than 9 years of master work clip successful NPB, he will not beryllium taxable to a posting fee.

A 12-year seasoned of NPB, pinch each of his seasons spent pinch the Yomiuri Giants, Sugano has a profession 2.43 ERA crossed 1,873 1/3 innings and 281 games (99 starts). Over that span, Sugano struck retired 1,596 batters against 352 walks.

Sugano, 35, enters Major League Baseball arsenic 1 of Japan’s much accomplished arms. He’s a two-time Sawamura Award victor (Japan’s balanced of the Cy Young Award), arsenic good arsenic a two-time Central League MVP. He’s earned 8 All-Star nods, on pinch a pitching triple crown, 4 ERA titles and 2 strikeout titles.

4 Ks done 4 for Tomoyuki Sugano truthful far.

pic.twitter.com/gVhXXDk1yr

— Yakyu Cosmopolitan (@yakyucosmo) October 17, 2024

2024 marked Sugano’s 2nd foray into the world free agency pool, arsenic the righty had antecedently been posted backmost successful 2020 arsenic portion of the 2021 class. He was posted successful Dec. 2020, however, grounded to motion pinch a squad wrong the 45-day negotiating window. Instead, he returned to the Giants, earlier erstwhile again testing the MLB waters this offseason.

When Sugano does transportation for the Orioles adjacent spring, he will beryllium the 2nd astir caller Japanese pitcher to telephone Camden Yards home. Previously, Baltimore executed a waste and acquisition for Shintaro Fujinami successful 2023, pinch the then-29-year-old righty posting a 4.85 ERA complete 30 games. Armed pinch respective breaking balls, Sugano will subordinate a roster headlined by Zach Eflin and Grayson Rodriguez.

(Photo of Sugano from 2021: Kyodo via Associated Press)

Johnny Flores Jr. is simply a Senior Editor for The Athletic covering MLB. Johnny has covered shot since 2018. Before joining The Athletic, Johnny was an Associate Editor astatine CBS Sports and Bleacher Report, arsenic good arsenic an Editorial Producer and Reporter astatine Major League Baseball’s MLB dot com. Johnny attended the University of Southern California’s Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism, and originates from Coachella, CA.