After Baltimore Orioles starter Tomoyuki Sugano labored through 3 2/3 innings against the Guardians on July 21, he had a strong message for the team’s front office ahead of the impending trade deadline. “I really want to stay with this team and win with this team,” he said after the game. “I want to continue to play for this team as long as I can.”
The Orioles front office granted him his wish at this year’s trade deadline when they held onto him despite overhauling the major league roster, and he’s rewarded them with a strong performance that should have the front office thinking about whether he’s a part of the team’s long-team core.