Phillies targeting a Japanese pitching legend being overshadowed by Roki Sasaki

The Major League Baseball offseason rumors are swirling with ferocity, although there hasn't been much action to speak of yet. Now, we're heading into a month-long stretch before the annual MLB Winter Meetings, when things will likely pick up.

One of the more exciting news items to drop over the last few days is that Japanese pitching phenom Roki Sasaki will be available to all 30 MLB teams this winter, per MLB.com's Thomas Harrigan. There have been multiple conflicting reports about which teams have the upper hand to sign the 23-year-old ace.

Phillies targeting Japanese pitcher Tomoyuki Sugano as well as Roki Sasaki

The Phillies are interested in Sasaki, like every other team, but there's another Japanese pitcher reportedly coming to MLB in 2025 who's being overshadowed by the early Sasaki mania. Tomoyuki Sugano is also on his way to North America, according to a report by ESPN's Jeff Passan in early October.

This season, Sugano and his six-pitch mix posted a 15-3 record with a 1.67 ERA and 0.95 WHIP in 24 games for the Yomiuri Giants. He's not a strikeout-per-inning type pitcher, with a 6.4 K/9, but he featured elite command with a 0.9 BB/9.

Per Phillies Tailgate on X, the 35-year-old Sugano has applied to become an international free agent and the Phillies are one of six clubs to have confirmed interest in signing the Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) league legend.

The right-hander has been one of the best during his 12-year career in Japan, with a 136-75 record, 2.45 ERA and 1,596 strikeouts in 1,873 1/3 innings pitching for the Giants. The two-time NPB Central League MVP (2014 and 2020) is also a two-time Sawamura Award winner, Japan's version of the Cy Young, in 2017 and 2018.

Phillies have scouted Tomoyuki Sugano and Roki Sasaki

As recently reported by Nikkan Sports, the Phillies have scouted both Sugano and Sasaki:

"According to a major league source, 'This year, many scouts have visited Japan many times,' and the top-class personnel in the organization department have repeatedly checked out promising players such as Giants pitcher Sugano Tomoyuki (35) and Lotte pitcher Sasaki Roki (23) in person."

The Phillies have boosted their focus on Japanese scouting in recent years, as reported by MLB.com's Todd Zolecki last December. They missed out on Yoshinobu Yamamoto last winter despite making a large offer. While Sasaki would be a great get, landing an experienced starter like Sugano will be a first step to going into 2025 with a healthy amount of starting pitching depth.

Already in his mid-30s, it's doubtful that the Phillies would need to commit to a long-term deal for Sugano. One year, maybe two, tops. MLB Trade Rumors predicts that he'll sign a one-year, $12 million deal. That's a risk the front office should be willing to take if Sasaki looks like an unattainable target.

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