Tomoyuki

Sugano

The deal is official. Sugano has been one of Japan’s top starting pitchers for over a decade at this juncture and will finally make the leap to the major leagues after finishing last year with a sparkling 1.67 ERA and 111/16 K/BB ratio across 156 2/3 innings. The 35-year-old righty doesn’t offer premium velocity, but boasts a five-pitch mix that is headlined by a deadly splitter. The lack of strikeout upside limits his fantasy appeal to deeper mixed leagues, but he should provide a serious lift in the ratio departments as a back-end rotation stabilizer for fantasy purposes. He’s a decent late-round target in deep mixers heading into next season.

Long one of Japan’s best pitchers, Sagano was posted by Yomiuri after the 2020 season and had several suitors, but he wound up signing a four-year, $40 million deal to stay put. That contract had a clause that allowed him to explore international free agency after the 2021 season, but following something of a down year, he declined to exercise it. Even accounting for the low offense environment in Japan right now, Sagano has had a terrific 2024, going 15-3 with a 1.67 ERA and a 111/16 K/BB in 156 2/3 innings. He turns 35 later this month, and his fastball sits in the 90-93 mph range, so he probably won’t land a huge contract an MLB team this winter. There will be significant interest, though.

The 32-year-old hurler went 6-7 with a 3.16 ERA, 1.00 WHIP and 107/27 K/BB ratio across 119 2/3 innings during the 2021 season. Sugano told Yahoo Japan that his goal is to help the Yomiuri Giants win a championship in 2022. He will again have the opportunity to opt out of his deal with the Giants after the 2022 season if he so chooses.

Sugano had until the end of business on Thursday to sign with an MLB club after being posted by the Giants, but failed to come to an agreement with any club. The 31-year-old reportedly has a four-year offer on the table that contains opt-outs after each year, so it’s certainly possible we see the hurler in the majors at some point starting in 2022. Rosenthal says Sugano will earn around $8 million for his work in 2021. He’s one of the best pitchers in Japan, and posted an impressive 1.97 ERA with a 131/25 K/BB ratio over the 2020 season.

Sugano was posted by the Giants this winter, but he was unable to come to terms with an MLB team and opted instead to return to Japan. While that will remain true through the 2021 season, it’s possible that this is a short stay. Sugano’s new deal allows him to opt out three times, meaning he can become a free agent at the end of any of his seasons with the club. The 31-year-old is one of the best pitchers in Japan and posted a sparkling 1.97 ERA with a 131/25 K/BB ratio last year, and will see plenty of interest when/if -- almost assuredly when -- he does enter free agency.

The deadline for MLB clubs to work out an agreement with Sugano is Thursday at 5 p.m. ET, and it sounds like nobody has been willing to meet his asking price up to this point. The 31-year-old reportedly has a four-year offer on the table from the Yomiuri Giants of NPB that would still allow him to opt out after each year of the deal. He might do better for himself to delay the move to North America until next winter, when hopefully there will be a better financial landscape around Major League Baseball. Sugano registered a shiny 1.97 ERA, 0.888 WHIP, and 131/25 K/BB ratio across 137 1/3 innings (20 starts) for the Yomiuri Giants in 2020. Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union-Tribune says the Padres are still in the mix, but we’ll find out soon enough.

According to multiple reports, Sugano has arrived in the United States and is expected to make a final decision regarding whether to make the jump to the major leagues before his signing deadline on January 7. The 31-year-old righty recorded a pristine 1.97 ERA and 131/25 K/BB ratio across 137 1/3 innings for the Yomiuri Giants last year. All three potential destinations would make sense, especially the Mets, who have been linked to nearly every notable free agent this offseason and have a clear need in their starting rotation.

Sugano is currently in the United States with his agent, Joel Wolfe, to go over the final offers from interested MLB teams. He faces a January 7th (Thursday) deadline to sign with a team. Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reported Sunday that it’s “not out of question” Sugano returns to the Yomiuri Giants, who have offered him a new four-year contract which includes three opt-outs. Concern over COVID-19 is at least part of the reason he’s considering staying in Japan. The Mets, Blue Jays, and Giants have been mentioned as potential finalists stateside. Sugano is thought of as the No. 2 starter available behind Trevor Bauer, so there should be some movement on the pitcher front once there’s some resolution here.

The Mets have been mentioned along with the Giants and Blue Jays as possible finalist, but it sounds like talks never got serious, or at least haven’t yet. Starting pitching remains an area of need, but perhaps they feel like Jake Odorizzi and Masahiro Tanaka could be a better fit. As for Sugano, he faces a Thursday deadline to sign with an MLB team, so a decision should be coming soon.

Rosenthal notes that the Giants have made Sugano a four-year offer with three opt-outs. Sugano also reportedly has COVID-19 concerns which have him at least considering staying put. Rosenthal adds that major league clubs are offering the right-hander more money, however. Ultimately, it would still be a surprise if he doesn’t jump to the major leagues. We will find out soon, with a decision likely coming in the next day or two, per Rosenthal. The Mets, Blue Jays and Giants are three clubs known to be among the finalists for Sugano’s services.