© Kelvin Kuo | 2017 Mar 21
The Giants could use another starter to round out their five-man rotation, and they’re reportedly looking outside of the United States to do so.
According to Jon Morosi of MLB Network, the Giants are one of five teams (Blue Jays, Padres, Mets, Red Sox) interested in the services of Japanese right-handed pitcher, and Nippon Professional Baseball star, Tomoyuki Sugano. The Giants would have until Jan. 7 to strike a deal with Sugano, as that represents the international signing deadline.
Sugano, 31, has been one of the best pitchers in all of Japan for the Yomiuri Giants during his six-year career. Sugano has made the NPB All-Star team in every one of those seasons, posting less than a 2.14 ERA in five of them and winning two Central League MVP awards (2014, 2020). Sugano has a reputation for having both excellent command and bat-missing stuff, a mid-90s fastball that pairs with multiple off-speed pitches.
Were the Giants to land Sugano, he would likely represent the fifth right-handed pitcher in their five man rotation, joining Johnny Cueto, Kevin Gausman, Anthony DeSclafani and Logan Webb. A one-sided staff is uncommon in the modern MLB, and is something the Giants haven’t had since 1926, but as Grant Brisbee noted in The Athletic on Wednesday, the numbers indicate almost no competitive advantage for hitters who face pitchers of the same handedness multiple days in a row, when compared to the alternative.
Either way, the Giants need more starting pitching depth. If 2020 was a reminder of anything, it’s that the opening day rotation will not be consistent, and the Giants would be well-served by having at least seven or eight guys, of any handedness, that they feel comfortable trotting out in the first inning.