MLB rumors: 3 teams that should sign NPB star Tomoyuki Sugano

The Padres were always going to be exciting as long as Fernando Tatis Jr. and Manny Machado continued to mash in the heart of the order, but they needed some starters that could go deep into games and put their excellent bullpen in positions to slam the door shut. While the emergence of Dinelson Lamet and the trade for Mike Clevinger put San Diego in prime position to contend with the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NL West, Clevinger being ruled out for the 2021 season means that AJ Preller needs to find a replacement as soon as possible. Preller has made a habit of swinging for the fences, so why not try to get Sugano?

Considering how there has been a trend of Japanese players coming over from the NPB choosing to sign either in a coastal city or large media market, plenty of teams on the West Coast will be interested in Sugano’s services. San Diego, however, has the perfect combination of proven talent on the pro roster, exciting prospects coming down the minor league pipeline, and a need in the rotation that could make Sugano the featured starter. The bidding war for Sugano will be furious, but the Padres have plenty of assets at their disposal that could help them get the victory in this sweepstakes.