The 35-year-old Sugano has spent his entire 12-year career with the Yomiuri Giants of the NPB’s Central League, and he’s the league’s reigning MVP after posting a 1.67 ERA in 156 2/3 innings.
Burnes, acquired in a February trade, threw 194 1/3 innings for the Orioles, pitching to a 2.92 ERA. He spun a gem in Game 1 of the wild-card series, allowing one run in eight innings.
Mayo and Holliday will need to earn their spots on the big league roster after rough debut seasons. But there’s reason to believe they can use this offseason as a springboard.
We will miss the switch-handed slugger more because he represented resilience through the rebuild. But the Orioles’ track record with beloved players from that time suggests fans should trust the decision.
”There is no player that we are not interested in or pursuing in some shape or fashion if we feel like the talent is additive to the current roster we have,” general manager Mike Elias said.
Over three seasons, the 2022 changes to the left-field wall took away 137 home runs, according to Statcast. The Orioles are adjusting after they "overcorrected," hoping for a more balanced ballpark.