Baltimore – Tomoyuki Sugano is finally heading to the big leagues.
The Baltimore Orioles agreed to a one-year, $13 million contract with the Japanese star right-hander on Monday night. Sugano is coming off an MVP season — his third — in the Nippon Professional Baseball Central League. The 35-year-old spent 12 years with the Yomiuri Giants. He was assigned by the Giants after the 2020 season and was available for major league teams to bid on, but did not agree to a trade.
Sugano went 15-3 with a 1.67 ERA last season, walking just 16 batters in 156 2/3 innings. He added another MVP award after winning in 2014 and 2020.
Sugano pitched for Japan in the 2017 World Baseball Classic and allowed three hits in six innings in the semifinal against the United States.
The Orioles have some questions after making the postseason the past two seasons. Baltimore's Corbin Burns is a free agent, and starters Kyle Bradish and Tyler Wells were both sidelined last year after Tommy John surgery. Grayson Rodriguez missed time down the stretch with a back injury.
If Burns does not return, Rodriguez, Zach Eflin and Dean Kramer are expected to be in the rotation, but it remains to be seen how much the Orioles add for the rest of this season. Sugano represents another option with some potential upside on a low-risk deal — though he can't be assigned to the minor leagues without his approval.
In addition to the $13 million salary, Sugano can receive several bonuses: $50,000 for an All-Star selection or election; $100,000 for the Cy Young Award, $75,000 for second place and $50,000 for third place; $50,000 for the Gold Glove; $100,000 for the World Series Most Valuable Player and $50,000 for the League Series Most Valuable Player. He will become a free agent when his contract expires.
Mets sign Young to one-year deal
New York – The New York Mets signed infielder Jared Young to a one-year contract on Monday, adding depth at first base after superstar Pete Alonso became a free agent this fall.
Young is a career .210 hitter with two homers, eight RBIs and a .725 OPS in 22 major league games and 69 plate appearances with the Chicago Cubs from 2022-23.
He was claimed off waivers by St. Louis in November 2023 and hit .285 with 11 homers and a .917 OPS at Triple-A Memphis this year before being released by the Cardinals in July.
The Blue Jays add to coaching staff
toronto – Graham Johnson was hired by the Toronto Blue Jays on Monday as bullpen coach, Sam Green as assistant pitching coach, and Lou Iannotti as assistant hitting coach.
Johnson, 39, spent the past three seasons as coach of the New York Yankees' Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders.
Green, 27, joined Toronto in 2021 and was the senior pitching research specialist this year.
Iannotti, 32, was a member of the Los Angeles Dodgers organization for seven seasons. He was Double-A Tulsa's hitting coach in 2023 and major league hitting coordinator for this year's World Series champions.
Signs Braves' De La Cruz to contract
ATLANTA — Brian De La Cruz and the Atlanta Braves have agreed to a one-year contract that pays $860,000 while in the major leagues and $180,000 while in the minors, giving Atlanta another outfield option while Ronald Acuña Jr. recovers from knee surgery.
De La Cruz became a free agent on Nov. 22 when Pittsburgh failed to offer him a contract for 2025. Atlanta announced his agreement on Sunday.
De la Cruz, who turned 28 on Monday, made his major league debut with Miami on July 31, 2021, and was traded to the Buccaneers last July 30. He is hitting .233 with 21 homers and 68 RBIs in 149 games this year, including .200 with three homers and 17 RBIs in 44 games with the Pirates.
The Pirates and Red Sox make a trade
pittsburgh – Infielder/outfielder Enmanuel Valdez was acquired by the Pittsburgh Pirates from the Boston Red Sox on Sunday in exchange for minor league right-hander Joe Vogatsky.
Valdez hit .214 with six homers and 28 RBIs in 65 games last season over four stints with the Red Sox. He hit .233 with 11 homers and 30 RBIs in 50 games with Triple-A Worcester.
The 22-year-old Vogatski was a 19th-round pick in this year's amateur draft out of James Madison.
MLB Calendar
January 9 – Exchanging salary arbitration numbers.
January 15 -International Signing Period begins at 9 a.m. EST.
January 21 – Voting announcement at the Baseball Writers Association of America Hall of Fame, Cooperstown, New York, at 6 p.m. EST.
January 27 – February 14 – Salary Arbitration Hearings, St. Petersburg, Florida.
February 9 – Chicago Cubs history of voluntary reporting of injured pitchers and players.
February 10 -Los Angeles Dodgers voluntary reporting history for injured pitchers and players.
February 12 – Voluntary reporting history for other teams' pitchers and injured players.
February 14 – Los Angeles Dodgers and Chicago Cubs mandatory reporting date for other players.
February 17 – Voluntary reporting history of other players on other teams.
February 20 – Start exhibition games.
February 22 – Mandatory reporting date.
March 2-11 – Contract renewal period for unsigned players on 40-man rosters.
March 9 – The last day to grant the player exemptions in exchange for severance pay for a period of 30 days.
March 13-16 – Spring outbreak.
March 18-19 – Los Angeles Dodgers vs. Chicago Cubs, Tokyo.
March 25 – The last day to grant the player exemptions in exchange for severance pay for a period of 45 days.
March 27 – Opening Day for all other teams, active rosters reduced to 26 players.
July 12 – Futures Game, Atlanta.
July 13-15 – Amateur Project, Atlanta.
July 14 – Home Run Derby, Atlanta.
July 15 – All-Star Game, Atlanta.
July 27 – Hall of Fame, Cooperstown, New York
July to be announced – Last day during the season to trade a player.
August 17 – New York Mets vs. Seattle in Williamsport, Pennsylvania.
August 31 – Last day to be in the organization to be eligible for the postseason.
September 1 – Active rosters expand to 28 players.
September 28 – End of the regular season.
November TBA – Last day for a club to make a qualifying offer to an eligible former player who has become a free agent, the fifth day after the World Series, at 5 p.m. EST.
November. To be determined later – Last day for player to accept qualifying offer, 4pm EST.
November. To be determined later – Final day for teams to offer 2026 contracts to unsigned players on their 40-man rosters.
December 7 – Announcement of the Hall of Fame and Contemporary Baseball Era Players Committee vote, in Orlando, Florida.
December 7-10 – Winter Meetings, Orlando, Florida.
December 10 – Draft Rule 5, Orlando, Florida.
December 15 -International Signing Period ends at 5pm EST.
2024-12-17 02:40:47
