We’re nearing the Christmas holiday with the Orioles still in the market for a top starter but solidifying the back portion of the rotation with Tomoyuki Sugano. How far he’s pushed back depends on whether a new pitcher arrives via trade or free agency.
This much is certain: Sugano won’t be intimidated by pitching in the American League East. He welcomes the challenge and believes he’s prepared for it after spending 12 seasons with the Yomiuri Giants in the Japan Central League.
“I’m very excited to play in such a competitive division against great teams, great franchise and great history,” he said via VC Sports Group agent Shawn Novak. “I’ve also played for a great franchise with a huge history and successful history with the Tokyo Giants, so it’s a great fit for me. I’m really looking forward to competing in that division and in the league in general.”
Sugano is eager to sample the Charleston’s soft shell crabs next summer in Harbor East. By then, he’ll already have bonded with catcher Adley Rutschman. Perhaps they can dine together outside of the clubhouse.
“I’m looking forward to competing, looking forward to working with Adley Rutschman, a fantastic catcher,” Sugano said.
“I’m really looking forward to communicating with him, working hard with him and having a lot of success.”
* Gary Sánchez will back up Rutschman after signing for $8.5 million. He can bring a different element from those seen in some recent catching reserves.
“The power he has is very much still there and similar to Tyler (O’Neill),” executive vice president/general manager Mike Elias said during an interview on WBAL Radio’s Hot Stove Show. “It’s big right-handed power. He’s got an ability to use the whole field with his power, so it’s quite a threat for a catcher. He’s also a really good thrower and he’s really improved his receiving the last few years. And I think as he’s entering into this later, veteran phase of his career, his defense has taken a step forward. So I think it’s a lot of interesting packages together in the catcher position.”
James McCann hit eight home runs this year in 233 plate appearances and six in 226 plate appearances in 2023. Robinson Chirinos, now the bench coach, hit four in 220 plate appearances in 2022. Austin Wynns hit four and Chance Sisco none in 2021, while Pedro Severino accounted for 11 in 419 plate appearances. Sisco belted eight home runs in 198 plate appearances in 2019, Wynns one in 74.
Caleb Joseph made most of the starts in 2018 and hit three in 280 plate appearances. Sisco had two in 184 and Wynns had four in 44.
Sánchez has totaled 184 homers in 10 seasons, twice eclipsing 30, and moving in the left field wall could unlock more pop. The Orioles will give him plenty of starts at designated hitter against left-handers.
* Rival executives want certain prospects from the Orioles in trade talks, but as Elias pointed out, interest isn’t confined to the minors.
The White Sox received four prospects from the Red Sox for starter Garrett Crochet, but they seem to be an exception with their rock-bottom expectations for the 2025 season.
“It’s a challenging market because there are so many teams going for it,” Elias said. “The White Sox are one of the very few teams that were out there kind of in rebuild mode trading their players for prospects, and so the rest of the trade discussions by and large are with teams that are trying to push their chips in this year and win. And so you’ve got to find some partners and some fits major league for major league, and that’s always a little tougher.”
The farm system isn’t ranked first any longer, but it’s still regarded highly for its talent and depth. Clubs are working to determine the untouchables and perhaps change Elias’ mind.
The Orioles don’t appear anywhere close to budging on catcher Samuel Basallo or infielder Jackson Holliday, though Elias didn’t mention any names. Infielder Coby Mayo and center fielder Enrique Bradfield Jr. are assumed to be in that same protected group.
“We definitely have a lot of prospects that are popular that teams bring up in trade talks. We have plenty to trade,” Elias said.
“I think that what’s challenging is teams always want our very, very top prospects, and last year for instance, that was (Colton) Cowser and (Jordan) Westburg and we wanted to hold onto those guys, and we saw what they’re all about. And we’re in a similar mode right now with our top handful of guys. We think they’re really special young players. Those that have debuted in the major leagues, we haven’t seen the full version of themselves yet. They went through struggles like most young players do nowadays. And those that haven’t debuted in the major leagues yet that are still in the minors, we just have really high evaluations on them offensively and defensively.
“So I think looking at the group of names from last year, we’re sure happy that we kept those guys. We were able to find a trade last year where we avoided trading our top five prospects or so. It’s not easy to do that, to trade those players when you think they’re going to be special.”
* The Brewers signed left-hander Bruce Zimmermann to a minor league deal, leaving Dean Kremer as the only remaining player acquired at the 2018 trade deadline that began the teardown and rebuild.
Kremer arrived from the Dodgers with outfielder Yusniel Díaz, pitcher Zach Pop and infielders Rylan Bannon and Breyvic Valera in exchange for infielder Manny Machado. Kremer wasn’t regarded as the jewel of the deal. That honor was bestowed upon Díaz, a top prospect who has one major league plate appearance.
Closer Zack Britton was traded to the Yankees for pitchers Dillon Tate, Cody Carroll and Josh Rogers. The Blue Jays selected Tate on waivers three month ago.
Second baseman Jonathan Scoop was traded to the Brewers for pitcher Luis Ortiz and infielders Jonathan Villar and Jean Carmona. Pitchers Kevin Gausman and Darren O’Day were traded to the Braves for Zimmermann, reliever Evan Phillips, infielder Jean Encarnácion and catcher Brett Cumberland.
Phillips has blossomed with the Dodgers, recording a 2.28 ERA and 44 saves in 194 games.
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