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.

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[Bertz]

Sugano reads very boring and Taillon-y, which I'd hope is a tier below the level Jed's looking at this winter.  That said, older less velo dependent guys like Imanaga, Kenta Maeda, and Hiroki Kuroda have come over without a ton of fanfare and still been stellar.

[Brock Beauchamp]

2 hours ago, Bertz said:

Sugano reads very boring and Taillon-y, which I'd hope is a tier below the level Jed's looking at this winter.  That said, older less velo dependent guys like Imanaga, Kenta Maeda, and Hiroki Kuroda have come over without a ton of fanfare and still been stellar.

Yeah, I’d like to see the Cubs aim higher than this. They’re already last in fastball velo, let’s not double down on it. 

[We Got The Whole 9]

10 minutes ago, Brock Beauchamp said:

Yeah, I’d like to see the Cubs aim higher than this. They’re already last in fastball velo, let’s not double down on it. 

Dropping Hendricks raises them to 27th or so probably lol