Rich Dubroff

Orioles bolster starting staff by signing Japan’s Sugano to 1-year contract

The Orioles signed 35-year-old right-handed pitcher Tomoyuki Sugano to a contract reportedly worth $13 million.

Sugano, who was ranked 46th on MLBTradeRumors.com’s top 50 free agents, was 136-75 with a 2.45 ERA in 12 seasons for the Yomiuri Giants in Japan.

Last season, Sugano was 15-3 with a 1.67 ERA in 24 starts, striking out 111 and walking just 16 in 156 2/3 innings, allowing only six home runs.

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Sugano becomes a candidate for the Orioles’ starting rotation, joining Grayson Rodriguez, Zach Eflin, Dean Kremer, Cade Povich and Albert Suárez, who pitched in Japan from 2019-2021.

He’s the first Japanese free agent signed by executive vice president/general manager Mike Elias. The Orioles traded for Japanese right-hander Shintaro Fujinami in July 2023.

The Orioles’ 40-man roster is now full.

Call for questions: I answer Orioles questions most weekdays. Please send yours to: Rich@BaltimoreBaseball.com.

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Rich Dubroff

Rich Dubroff grew up in Brooklyn as a fan of New York teams, but after he moved to Baltimore, quickly adopted the Orioles and Colts. After nearly two decades as a freelancer assisting on Orioles coverage for several outlets, principally The Capital in Annapolis and The Carroll County Times, Dubroff began covering the team fulltime in 2011. He spent five years at Comcast SportsNet’s website and for the last two seasons, wrote for PressBoxonline.com, Dubroff lives in Baltimore with his wife of more than 30 years, Susan.

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