The New York Mets could lose Luis Severino and Jose Quintana in free agency. They could be looking to bolster the starting rotation this winter.
While making predictions for upcoming free agency, Bleacher Report's Erik Beaston predicted that the Mets would sign Tomoyuki Sugano from the Yomiuri Giants of Nippon Professional Baseball. Sugano is expected to pursue Major League Baseball after 12 seasons in NPB, according to ESPN's Jeff Passan.
"Sugano was one of Japan's finest pitchers in 2024, going 15-3 in 24 appearances with an ERA of 1.67, a 0.945 WHIP, and a 6.94 strikeouts-to-walk ratio," wrote Beaston.
The Mets are not strangers to signing NPB pitchers. They signed Kodai Senga to a five-year, $75 million deal in 2023. Like Senga, Sugano will not have to be posted as he has already spent the required number of years in NPB to achieve international free-agent status.
"Players in NPB earn the right to international free agency after nine seasons," wrote Passan. "Sugano has spent a dozen years with the Giants, going 136-75, including a league-high win total at 15-3 this year, and he is still primed to pitch for Yomiuri in the Central Climax Series."
Sugano's age is a factor. He will turn 35 later this year, but the veteran has been phenomenal in 2024. He has won the Sawamura Award, the equivalent of the Cy Young, twice, two Central League Most Valuable Player Awards, and four ERA Titles.
Sugano pitched against Team USA in the 2017 World Baseball Classic and had six strikeouts with no earned runs allowed. Although that was seven seasons ago, he can clearly dominate against MLB talent and is arguably even better now.
