Tomoyuki Sugano, who had been on the radar of both the Mets and Yankees this season, reached a $ 40 million deal to return to the Yomiuri Giants, a Japanese baseball team. according to The Athletic.
As previously reported, the transaction includes three waivers, which means the right could re-enter the MLB free agent market next off-season. The one-year salary with Yomiuri Giants is expected to be in the range of $ 8 million, according to the website.
Sugano, 31, won 14-2 with 1.97 ERA, 0.89 WHIP and 131 shots in 137 innings in 2020. In eight seasons with the Giants, Sugano recorded a 101-50 mark with 2.34 ERA and twice won the Sawamura Award as the best pitcher in Nippon Professional Baseball.
Joel Sherman of the Post confirmed a few days ago that the Mets were no longer in Sugano’s hunt. He had also been linked to the Giants, Blue Jays and Red Sox.
The Yankees, who face many questions about their starting rotation, have had mixed results with Japanese pitchers over the past two decades. Masahiro Tanaka, a free agent, was the most successful for the Yankees, and Hiroki Kuroda had a solid time in the Bronx. But Hideki Irabu and Kei Igawa were busts at high prices.