Baltimore Orioles Secure Sugano's Services, Boras Questions Orioles Regarding Corbin Burnes
The Baltimore Orioles secured the services of seasoned right-hander Tomoyuki Sugano from the Japanese League, following a mutually beneficial one-year, $13 million agreement on Monday. However, this doesn't signal a departure from their interest in free agent right-hander Corbin Burnes, according to industry experts.
The Orioles have spent approximately $71 million on the free agent market this term, but Burnes is projected to command a contract valued around three times that amount based on length, given the recent megadeals for Juan Soto, Blake Snell, and Max Fried.
The Orioles aim to maintain a pace with free-spending division foe, the New York Yankees, despite two consecutive first-round playoff exits amongst 192 regular-season wins and an AL East title.
It remains uncertain if new proprietor David Rubenstein will venture into a commitment with Burnes, who would claim the heftiest contract in team history in terms of overall sum and annual average value. First baseman Chris Davis's seven-year, $161 million deal signed in 2016 remains the team record. Notably, Burnes, like Davis, is represented by renowned super agent Scott Boras.
The free agent market underscored significant contract escalations following a subdued winter the year prior, as left-handers Snell and Jordan Montgomery did not finalize deals until late March and received contracts featuring buyouts after a single season of commitment.
Boras used the introductory press conference for incoming free agent Tyler O’Neill to place the pressure squarely on Rubenstein's shoulders. "Really, this revolves around ownership," Boras elaborated to the press in Baltimore. "When competitiveness manifests within a market, ownership is compelled to contest for top-tier talents against their fellow owners. This concept might not be immediately grasped when one is new to the game."
Burnes performed admirably in his debut season with Baltimore after being procured from Milwaukee, notching a 15-9 record and a 2.92 ERA in 194 1/3 innings, earning recognition in the AL Cy Young Award balloting. He ultimately won the award in 2021 with the Brewers.
Burnes yielded a mere run in eight innings during Game 1 of the AL Wild Card series, yet the Orioles fell short in a 1-0 loss to Kansas City. The Royals proceeded to defeat the Orioles in Game 2 by a score of 2-1, advancing in the process.
"It's also noteworthy that this player supplied the exact performance you'd expect from a No. 1 pitcher in the postseason," Boras reiterated to the media. "This knowledge instills Baltimore with more clarity and, I presume, a heightened resolve to further strengthen this team and propel it towards championship caliber."
The Los Angeles Dodgers established the upper limit for average annual value in free agent pitching contracts by signing two-time Cy Young winner Blake Snell to a five-year, $182 million deal this winter. Max Fried exceeded this by inking an eight-year, $218 million agreement with the Yankees, setting a new record for lucrative deals.
Sugano represents the third free agent acquisition by the Orioles during this offseason, with Tyler O’Neill and Gary Sanchez following suit. O’Neill signed a three-year, $49.5 million contract, while Gary Sanchez agreed to a one-year, $13 million deal.
O’Neill is slated to earn $16.5 million annually across his three-year tenure, with an opt-out clause after 2025. He is expected to fill the void left by the market-uncertain Anthony Santander, who notched 44 homers during a standout 2024 campaign with the Orioles.
The Orioles' payroll consistently ranks among the lower third in major league rankings, given its young, cost-effective talent. The Orioles finished 22nd in the majors with a $109 million payroll in 2024.
Sugano is anticipated to assume a slot in the middle of the rotation, potentially serving as an improvement over the existing roster following a remarkable 2024 season — the best of his 12-year career with the Yomiuri Giants. He secured Central League MVP honors after posting a 15-3 record and an ERA of 1.67 with a WHIP of 0.945 in 156 2/3 innings.
He is the recipient of the Eiji Sawamura Award twice, an annual recognition given to the best pitcher in Nippon Professional Baseball. His 2024 performance mirrored his award-winning seasons in 2017-18, when he registered 32 victories and an aggregate ERA of 1.88 in 91 appearances. Sugano opted to return to Japan in 2020 despite posting availability for selection.
Right-handers Zach Eflin, Grayson Rodriguez, and Dean Kremer are regarded as the top three in the Orioles' starting rotation. Albert Suarez is a candidate, along with Tyler Wells and Kyle Bradish, both of whom are anticipated to begin the season on the injured list while recuperating from elbow surgeries.
Sugano appears to be a suitable fit for the newly reconfigured Camden Yards, where the left field fence is expected to shift inward by between 9 to 20 feet. Sugano, who employs a six-pitch mix, generated 51 percent of his outs via groundballs in 2024, while surrendering just six homers and issuing 16 walks.
The Orioles are also interested in securing the services of Corbin Burnes, despite the acquisition of Tomoyuki Sugano, as indicated by industry experts. Burnes, represented by Scott Boras, could command a contract worth significantly more than what the Orioles have spent so far.
The Baltimore Orioles have shown interest in free agent right-hander Corbin Burnes, who had an impressive debut season with the Milwaukee Brewers, earning recognition in the AL Cy Young Award balloting and winning the award in 2021.
Burnes' performance in the postseason, particularly in the AL Wild Card series, has caught the attention of the Orioles, with Scott Boras reiterating the importance of investing in top-tier talents like Burnes.
Despite the commitment to Tomoyuki Sugano, the Baltimore Orioles continue to explore the possibility of adding Corbin Burnes to their roster, recognizing the impact he could have on their pursuit of championship caliber.
The Orioles' interest in Corbin Burnes underscores their commitment to improving their starting rotation and strengthening their team, following their acquisition of Tomoyuki Sugano and other free agent signings.