Rumor: Japanese Pitcher Tomoyuki Sugano Coming To MLB In 2025

[Brock Beauchamp]

Jeff Passan of ESPN reported today that 34-year-old Japanese right-hander Tomoyuki Sugano will enter MLB free agency this offseason. 

Sugano will turn 35 in a week and it's hard to predict what kind of results he can expect against MLB hitters. Once a relatively hard-thrower, the righty now sits around 92 mph and controls six pitches. He's the epitome of a crafty veteran, striking out only six batters per nine innings in NPB.

Unlike most other Japanese baseball imports, Sugano is an unrestricted free agent. There will be no posting period and all teams can vie for his services as if he was a typical MLB free agent.

View full rumor

[Nick]

PASS...BIG TIME PASS...GO WITH WHAT YOU KNOW. ANOTHER RISKY CONTRACT, UGH

WE STILL HAVE STORY AND YOSHIDA ON THE BOOKS FOR 3 MORE YEARS.

 

[Hugh2]

3 hours ago, Nick said:

PASS...BIG TIME PASS...GO WITH WHAT YOU KNOW. ANOTHER RISKY CONTRACT, UGH

WE STILL HAVE STORY AND YOSHIDA ON THE BOOKS FOR 3 MORE YEARS.

 

Not that I have any interest, but he ain’t sniffing close to what Story and Yoshida got.  He probably gets a 1 year deal somewhwrw

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

Sugano is old enough for the Red Sox, but he'd be more desirable if he brought down his price by getting injured this winter. If rehab then projects him to throw his first pitch after the summer trade deadline, he'll be perfect for Boston.

[Duran Is The Man]

2 hours ago, 5GoldGlovesOF,75 said:

Sugano is old enough for the Red Sox, but he'd be more desirable if he brought down his price by getting injured this winter. If rehab then projects him to throw his first pitch after the summer trade deadline, he'll be perfect for Boston.

"i think he's worth 100/4" said Sam Kennedy somewhere.

[Bellhorn04]

15 hours ago, Hugh2 said:

Not that I have any interest, but he ain’t sniffing close to what Story and Yoshida got.  He probably gets a 1 year deal somewhwrw

So he's basically a Japanese Jabroni.

[Larry Cook]

Rather than sign a veteran Japanese pitcher with declining velocity, we need to call our friends in Pittsburgh. They have 2 pitching prospects and we should investigate prying one of them away from Pittsburgh. (Braxton Ashcraft and bubba chandler) 

Adding either of them is only going to cost us a few prospects and/or expendable major leaguers and bring a better quality pitcher into the organization than we currently have in the system