Orioles sign Japanese Free Agent Pitcher Tomoyuki Sugano to a $13 million contract

The Baltimore Orioles, looking to bolster their starting rotation, have invested in a free agent pitcher from Japan.

Right-hander Tomoyuki Sugano signed one one-year, $13 million contract Monday. Jeff Passan of ESPN was the first to report the deal.

Sugano, 35, was one of the best pitchers in Nippon Professional Baseball in 2024. He posted a 1.67 ERA and walked 16 batters while striking out 111 over 156.2 innings for the Yomiuri Giants.

Jon Morosi of MLB Network reported previously that the Los Angeles Angels also had interest in Sugano, who became a free agent after 12 seasons in the top league in Japan.

Sugano, 35, is a two-time winner of the Sawamura Award, the Japanese equivalent of the Cy Young Award. He was released by the Giants after the 2020 season, but ended up re-signing on a four-year, $40 million contract.

In 2024, Sugano was named Central League MVP after leading the Giants to a first-place regular season finish. Sugano was the losing pitcher in relief as the Giants lost Game 6 in the Climax series against the Yokohoma DeNA BayStars in October.

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