Report: Sugano returns to Japan after failing to reach deal with MLB team

January 07, 2021 - 7:37pm

Sportsnet's Arden Zwelling discusses pitcher Tomoyuki Sugano deciding he's staying in Japan and what it means for the Toronto Blue Jays and what's still available in the market to improve their pitching staff.

One of the top pitchers available on the MLB free-agent market is off the board.

Japanese ace Tomoyuki Sugano is returning to Nippon Professional Baseball for the 2021 season after failing to reach an agreement with an MLB team, according to ESPN’s Jeff Passan.

Japanese star Tomoyuki Sugano did not come to an agreement on a contract with a major league team before his posting window expired and will return to Nippon Professional Baseball for 2021, sources tell ESPN. He will be eligible to come to MLB as a free agent before 2022 season.

— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) January 7, 2021

Sugano has a career 101-49 record, 2.32 ERA and 1,214 strikeouts over his eight seasons with the NPB’s Yomiuri Giants. He was even more dominant in 2020, posting a 14-2 record and 1.97 ERA with 131 strikeouts and 25 walks in 137.1 innings.

The 31-year-old was named Central League MVP in 2014 and 2020 and won back-to-back Sawamura Awards as the league’s top starting pitcher in 2017 and ’18.

Multiple MLB teams, including the Toronto Blue Jays, were reported to have interest in the right-hander but did not offer Sugano the contract he desired.

Tomoyuki Sugano is headed to the Yomiuri Giants, with whom he has won two MVP awards and two Sawamura Awards as the best pitcher in Japan. He had a clear idea of his value. No major league team stepped up. The second-best pitcher on the market unsigned. How very 2020-21 winter.

— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) January 7, 2021

Sugano will reportedly have another opportunity to test the free-agent waters in North America next off-season, as his presumed deal with the Giants carries three opt-out clauses.

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