The Baltimore Orioles entered the season with high expectations for another playoff run and had good reason to hope that, this time, they would go deep.
But after the team lost Corbin Burnes and Anthony Santander in free agency and failed to bring in significant replacements, it has spiraled to a 16-32 record and a last place standing in the American League East division. The team opted to fire manager Brandon Hyde in hopes of turning things around, but has instead lost four out of its last five games.
As the trade deadline nears, the Orioles appear headed toward trading away the assets they can and regrouping for the future. Zachary Howell of ClutchPoints predicted that would include dealing away one of the roster’s few bright spots in Japanese rookie Tomoyuki Sugano.
“If (executive Mike) Elias doesn’t see enough of a turnaround from his team before this summer’s trade deadline, he could hold a fire sale,” Howell wrote, identifying Sugano as a player “likely to be moved.” “Sugano is an interesting piece, but at 35 years old, he isn’t a player that Baltimore can expect a lot from in the long term.”
Looking to replace Burnes, the Orioles signed Sugano to a one-year, $13 million deal after a long and fruitful career in Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball league. Sugano has adjusted well to the US, logging a 3.07 ERA in his first 10 starts with the Orioles.
But as the team turns its attention toward 2026 and beyond, it could be best served dealing Sugano away before he seeks a new contract in free agency.
With several younger stars on the roster, including Gunnar Henderson, Adley Rutschman and Jackson Holliday, the best move could be to flip a veteran like Sugano for some future talent.
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