Fastball

Projecting Baltimore Orioles Starting Rotation After Signing Tomoyuki Sugano

The Baltimore Orioles came to a one-year agreement with the longtime Japanese ace on Monday, meaning they'll have a re-worked rotation in 2025.
Brady Farkas|
Baltimore Orioles pitcher Grayson Rodriguez (30) throws against the Toronto Blue Jays during the first inning at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on July 31.
Baltimore Orioles pitcher Grayson Rodriguez (30) throws against the Toronto Blue Jays during the first inning at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on July 31. | Reggie Hildred-Imagn Images

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Baltimore Orioles

The Baltimore Orioles came to a one-year agreement with longtime Japanese ace Tomoyuki Sugano on Monday night. It's a $13 million deal for Sugano, who spent 12 years in the NPB.

Now 35 years old, Sugano comes over as one of the most accomplished pitchers in NPB history. He has a 2.43 ERA in more than 1,800 innings. Sugano had been pitching for the Yomiuri GIants. Ironically enough, former New York Yankees pitcher Masahiro Tanaka just signed there to take his place.

Sugano figures to instantly slot into the starting rotation for the Orioles, who finished second in the American League East this past season. He could very well take the place of Corbin Burnes, who has long been predicted to sign elsewhere in free agency.

With Sugano in the fold, here's how the rotation could line up in 2025 for manager Brandon Hyde.

1) Grayson Rodriguez

2) Kyle Bradish

3) Zach Eflin

4) Dean Kremer

5) Tomoyuki Sugano

Rodriguez is the headliner of the group as the former top prospect. Just 25 years old, he went 13-4 this season before shutting it down with injury. He's a former first round pick as well. Bradish was injured much of 2024 but went 12-7 with a 2.83 ERA in 2023 as the Orioles won the division. Eflin was acquired in a trade deadline deal this past year from the Tampa Bay Rays.

The Orioles should continue to have intense competition in the East, as the Yankees won the American League pennant and the Red Sox just added Garrett Crochet.

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Brady Farkas
BRADY FARKAS

Brady Farkas is a baseball writer for Fastball on Sports Illustrated/FanNation and the host of 'The Payoff Pitch' podcast which can be found on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Videos on baseball also posted to YouTube. Brady has spent nearly a decade in sports talk radio and is a graduate of Oswego State University. You can follow him on Twitter @WDEVRadioBrady. 

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