Will the Red Sox flood this season? Boston’s economic resilience and desperate desire to bounce back from a disappointing 2020. As such, we will examine what the club looks for in 2021 and beyond, as many significant free agents make sense.
The early pitching market gained momentum this week as Japan’s Nippon professional baseball Lana Yomiri Giants officially posted the right-hander Tomoyuki Suga for the Major League Baseball across Lane teams.
Sugano now has until January 7 to agree terms with an MLB club, and it already appears that the 31-year-old has no shortage of interest.
Of course, evaluating international talent can be difficult. We must rely heavily on scouting reports and observations from acquaintances, but it is also almost impossible to predict how a player’s skills will translate in the United States where competition is different.
However, we will not refuse to try to mean Sugano’s free agency. Unsuspecting teams are doing their homework, and it’s not shocking if the Japanese Hurler becomes an influential contributor in 2021 and beyond.
But will the Boston Red Sox be able to sign Sugano?
Boston Sports Journal’s Sean McAdam Recently reported The Red Sox “intend to be aggressive in their pursuit,” and MLB insider John Morosi then confirmed the organization’s interest. Therefore, it is definitely in the realm of possibility.
Let’s check if it’s a good match.
Information
Status: Pitcher
Age: 31 (October 11, 1989)
Height: 6 ft-1
Weight: 183 lbs
Bat: True
Throws: True
2020 statistics *
20 appearances (137 1/3 innings)
14-2 record, 1.97 ERA, 131 strikeouts
0.89 WHIP, 8.6 k / 9
* With the Yomiuri Giants of all Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB)
Career Statistics *
196 appearances (1,360 innings)
101-49 record, 2.32 ERA, 1,214 strikeouts
1.03 WHIP, 8.0 K / 9
* In the Japan Central League of all NPBs
Why Sugano makes sense for the Red Sox:
The Red Sox obviously need pitching, and Sugano could be on the sidelines more than any free agent starter available except National League Psy Young Award winner Trevor Bauer.
ESPN’s Kille McDaniel has listed Sugano as the 13th best MLB free agent available this winter – and a fifth-best starting pitcher available, just behind Bauer, Marcus Strowman, Kevin Gaussman and Masahiro Tanaka.
(One year later, Strowman and Gaussman accepted qualifying offers from the New York Mets and the San Francisco Giants for 18.9 million, respectively.)
“Sugano is a reliable fourth (give or take) starter, so consider a large number of innings with an IRA around 4.00.”
While it doesn’t exactly scream “ace”, it has significant value in that type of product, especially since there are serious question marks in Boston’s rotation after the devastating 2020.
Also, other estimates also look more bullish on Sugano, who won the Swamura Award as NPB’s top pitcher in 2017 and 2018.
“An MLB scout said on Monday that Sugano’s fastball has late action and usually reaches 95 at from -1-3m miles,” Morosi wrote. “Sugano’s slider is known for its best secondary offering fur, and it also throws fork and l and changeup that can be more than average pitch.”
All told, Suna may be the best way to get out of Japan, as Tanaka signed a seven-year, 15 155 million deal with the New York Yankees in 2014.
Not bad. Definitely more attractive than many other starters available, especially when you consider his age (31) and the likelihood of achieving him at a reasonable rate thanks to the inherent risk of signing a player with no MLB experience.
McDonnell projects a two-year, 24 24 million contract for Sugano – on top of the required publishing fee paid to Peter’s Japanese club, which in this case would be $ 4.8 million, bringing the total cost to 28.8 million.
(The publishing fee is 20 percent of Sugano’s first 25 25 million of guaranteed salary. After that, it’s 17.5 percent of the next 25 250 million and 15 percent of any amount over million 50 million.)
Why Sugano doesn’t make sense for the Red Sox:
Uncertainty.
For every Tanaka or, best yet, U Darwish, there is a Kei Igawa or UCE Kikuchi.
As mentioned, international talent is hard to come by, especially with millions of dollars involved. It ultimately comes down to how much an organization trusts its scouting department and whether it is willing to absorb the risk that comes with rolling the dice.
The Red Sox are largely in a position of power as a big-market franchise that simply resets its luxury tax. It allows for some creative spending, but no one wants to put money on the fire. And Suga always loses an opportunity in the MLB, until the investment sinks.
Basically, signing Sugano for the Red Sox team would be a calculated gamble, already wondering when Chris Cell (Tommy John Surgery) will return and whether Eduardo Rodriguez (myocarditis) will take another step after all of 2020 is gone.
Boston may choose the more proven, less existent option.
Sentence: Ft.
Forecast: Suga hints at the San Francisco Giants.
Gary A. Thumbnail photo by Vasquez / USA Today Sports Images
