{"id":11581731,"date":"2025-07-28T07:00:31","date_gmt":"2025-07-28T11:00:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.baltimoresun.com\/?p=11581731"},"modified":"2025-07-28T00:24:12","modified_gmt":"2025-07-28T04:24:12","slug":"orioles-reset-tomoyuki-sugano-value-mlb-trade-deadline","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.baltimoresun.com\/2025\/07\/28\/orioles-reset-tomoyuki-sugano-value-mlb-trade-deadline\/","title":{"rendered":"Orioles reset: Tomoyuki Sugano\u2019s trade value a question ahead of deadline"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Orioles exited the All-Star break with hopes of getting back into the playoff race. The way they\u2019ve played since has forced everyone \u2014 the players, the front office and the fan base \u2014 to realize that goal isn\u2019t realistic any longer.<\/p>\n

Baltimore (47-58) has gone 4-6 to open the second half and is now 8 1\/2 games back of the final wild-card spot in the American League. As a result, the front office\u2019s fire sale has begun, as general manager Mike Elias has already traded relievers Bryan Baker<\/a> and Gregory Soto<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Ahead of Thursday\u2019s trade deadline, here\u2019s the Orioles reset:<\/p>\n

What was good?<\/h4>\n

Trading Tomoyuki Sugano makes a ton of sense. Whether a contending team wants him is the question.<\/p>\n

Sugano was the Orioles\u2019 best starting pitcher through his first 12 starts of his MLB career with a 3.04 ERA. But his ERA rose after each of his next seven starts as MLB hitters began to adjust to the 35-year-old\u2019s pitch-to-contact repertoire. His 7.88 ERA severely diminished his trade value and potentially removed it entirely, especially considering the underlying metrics tell a concerning story for a pitcher who struggles to generate swings and misses.<\/p>\n

However, Sugano\u2019s outing Sunday against the Colorado Rockies was one of the best of his big league career, striking out an MLB-career-high eight batters across six innings of one-run ball while displaying a firmer-than-usual 94.5 mph fastball. He\u2019s tossed a quality start in two of his past three outings after he also did so July 10 against the New York Mets.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve experienced good times and bad times, especially the past month,\u201d Sugano said after Sunday\u2019s win through team interpreter Yuto Sakurai. \u201cJune, I went through some struggles, but I can overcome that moving forward.\u201d<\/p>\n

Orioles interim manager Tony Mansolino said Sugano has spent the past few weeks working with Baltimore\u2019s pitching coaches on adjustments that helped unlock some extra velocity and keep hitters off-balance. Does Mansolino think Sugano should be an attractive target for contending teams at the deadline?<\/p>\n

\u201cIf they watch the last three starts, yeah, I’d take that,\u201d Mansolino said. \u201cI felt pretty good about it. If you watched that Mets start, I’d take him. In a heartbeat.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Baltimore
\u201cI\u2019ve experienced good times and bad times, especially the past month,\u201d Orioles starter Tomoyuki Sugano said after Sunday\u2019s win through team interpreter Yuto Sakurai. \u201cJune, I went through some struggles, but I can overcome that moving forward.\u201d (Karl Merton Ferron\/Staff)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Sugano is one of the most decorated pitchers in Japan history, but he wanted a new challenge and came over to MLB this offseason on a one-year, $13 million deal with the Orioles. Mansolino said Sugano has assimilated to a new country, a new league and a new clubhouse \u201cvery gracefully.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cPlayers love him,\u201d Mansolino said. \u201cHe is so well-liked in that room. The players mess around with him, he messes around with his teammates.\u201d<\/p>\n

What clubhouse will he be joking around in a week from now?<\/p>\n

What wasn\u2019t?<\/h4>\n

When F\u00e9lix Bautista took the mound July 20 in Tampa, Florida, it was clear immediately that something was off.<\/p>\n

The 6-foot-8 closer hasn\u2019t fully regained the triple-digit velocity he consistently flashed before his elbow injury, but he\u2019s been throwing high 90s mph for most of the past two months. But when he entered for the save versus the Rays, he was initially throwing 94 mph \u2014 a concerning number for someone who was averaging about 98 mph.<\/p>\n

Bautista hasn\u2019t pitched since. As he began to warm up Wednesday in Cleveland, Mansolino said the right-hander reported that \u201csomething didn\u2019t feel right.\u201d<\/a> He was placed on the injured list the next day with shoulder discomfort, and the team has yet to provide additional details. This could be simply a minor injury and Bautista will be back shortly. But until that\u2019s known, the concern level will always be high for a pitcher as important as Bautista.<\/p>\n

\"Baltimore
Orioles closer F\u00e9lix Bautista, left, didn't look like his usual self on July 20 against the Rays. He was placed on the injured list a few days later. (Phelan M. Ebenhack\/AP)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

What\u2019s next?<\/h4>\n

The best team in baseball is coming to town.<\/p>\n

Yes, the Toronto Blue Jays have the best record in baseball. The red-hot Blue Jays (63-43) have won eight of their past 10 and 18 of their past 23 to decidedly move atop the AL East standings.<\/p>\n

The O\u2019s and Jays will play four games in three days with a doubleheader Tuesday because of a rainout in April. Zach Eflin will start Monday and Charlie Morton will take the ball for one of the games Tuesday in what could be both starters\u2019 final outing in an Orioles uniform with the deadline looming.<\/p>\n