The Baltimore Orioles have taken a unique approach in their recruitment efforts. Instead of the typical methods used by major-league clubs, they sold their team to attract Japanese free agent right-hander Tomoyuki Sugano. This decision was based on a very baseball-oriented conversation that appealed to Sugano's professional instincts. As Orioles general manager Mike Elias said, "We made it a very baseball-oriented conversation. I think he really liked that."

The Orioles' Bold Bid for a Championship Contender

Why the Orioles Chose Sugano

Baltimore, an East Coast city with a small Japanese population, may seem an unlikely destination for Sugano. However, he was attracted by the team's ambition to become a championship contender. In a video call on December 5th, pitching coach Drew French, pitching strategist Ryan Klimek, along with Elias, manager Brandon Hyde, and vice president of professional scouting Mike Snyder, presented ideas on how they could help him improve. Sugano, even after winning his third Central League MVP award last season with a 1.67 ERA in 156 2/3 innings, was open to new thoughts. As French said, "I really loved our conversation with him. He was listening so intently and I remember seeing the look on his face as he processed it all."Trackman data on Japanese players is available to major-league teams, enabling club officials to evaluate data in the same way they do with major and minor leaguers. French and Klimek made a suggestion to Sugano about pitch usage and location, and he had a real good back-and-forth with their coaches. Elias explained, "He had a real good back-and-forth with our coaches about why he was not already doing some of the things they were suggesting. It was because of differences between the American strike zone and Japanese strike zone. Clearly, he’s a very cerebral pitcher."The Orioles have particular optimism that Sugano will be able to transition to Major League Baseball. His command and pitchability are well above average, and they think he will be able to implement scouting plans and make changes. French added, "We thought a guy with his experience and versatility would probably enjoy the back-and-forth. He asked some really good questions and made it known he was after a World Series title. After seeing the investments made since Mike arrived (in November 2018) and what is on the horizon with this new ownership group, he could see himself improving and succeeding in this environment."

Sugano's Impact on the Orioles

One goal of the Orioles' new ownership is to build a greater presence in Japan. Sugano was not unknown to Baltimore or other major-league clubs. He pitched for Japan's most famous and successful team and also participated in the World Baseball Classic and other international competitions. Snyder began following Sugano as a rookie in 2013 and scouted him more recently. He and vice president of international scouting Koby Perez impressed the pitcher with their knowledge of his career and six-pitch repertoire. During the call with Orioles officials, Sugano asked through an interpreter, "Do you want me to chase strikeouts? Do you want me to eat innings? How do you want me to pitch?" Snyder said, "I wouldn't limit his style. One week, we might need him to get through six innings. Another week, we might say, 'Go out and be the best you can for however long that lasts.' There are ways he's going to be able to throttle things up and down a little bit. He's intelligent enough and has the command to actually execute that."Sugano will face the usual adjustments that Japanese players must contend with, such as differences in the balls and mounds, climates, foods, and cultures. But the Orioles are looking forward to what he might contribute not only to their rotation but also to their overall approach to pitching. As Snyder said, "He might have a thing or two to teach us, too."

The Yankees' Cody Bellinger Trade

The Yankees' acquisition of Cody Bellinger from the Chicago Cubs on Tuesday is a strategic move. From their perspective, Bellinger can play any one of three positions - first base, center field, or left. The Yankees believe he will provide above-average defense at all three spots. At the moment, the only certainty is that Aaron Judge will be in right field. If they sign a first baseman, Bellinger can go to center and Jasson Domínguez can play left. Or, more likely, Domínguez will be in center and Bellinger in left. Domínguez generally looks better in center.Yankees general manager Brian Cashman has rebounded from the loss of Juan Soto by adding Max Fried, a pitcher who threw six shutout innings in the 2021 World Series clincher, and Devin Williams, a two-time winner of the Trevor Hoffman Award as the National League's best reliever. Incredibly, considering they went to the World Series last season, the Yankees still need to add two players - a first baseman or outfielder with Bellinger's versatility giving them the flexibility to address either position, and a second baseman or third baseman with Jazz Chisholm Jr. available to play either spot.

Anthony Santander's Market Status

In a game starved for power, free-agent outfielder Anthony Santander is a switch-hitter coming off a career-high 44 homers. However, he continues to linger on the market despite Soto's signing. There are three possible reasons for this. His career.307 on-base percentage, his sprint speed which last season ranked in the bottom 18 percent of the league, and his poor defensive metrics, although Orioles manager Brandon Hyde last season praised his work in right field.Teoscar Hernández, 32, is two years older than Santander with a slightly higher.320 career OBP and slightly better defense, especially when in right field instead of left. His sprint speed last season ranked in the 83rd percentile. Santander is seeking a longer deal than Hernández, and if teams view him as one-dimensional, he could end up with a lesser deal than he desires.

The Pirates' Jared Jones

The Pittsburgh Pirates are keeping their options open regarding right-hander Jared Jones. Before sending Luis L. Ortiz to the Cleveland Guardians as part of the package for Spencer Horwitz, they may have been more willing to trade him. The Pirates have worked hard to build their young rotation, and Jones, 23, is under club control for five more seasons. Like the Guardians, Tampa Bay Rays, and Milwaukee Brewers, teams with similar payrolls, Pittsburgh intends to stay open-minded on all possibilities. These teams generally improve through trades rather than free agency. The soaring price of free-agent pitching might prompt clubs to make aggressive trade offers for younger, cheaper starters. So, if a team offers the Pirates a hitter of comparable talent and service to Jones, they might consider it - or at least should.(Top photo: The Yomiuri Shimbun via Associated Press)