Yankees might have perfect depth rotation option to steal from division rival

The New York Yankees whiffed on Freddy Peralta. They got beat to the punch on MacKenzie Gore. They don't want to spend what is necessary to land one of the top free-agent starters. They wanted to add a starter via trade and went out and got Ryan Weathers. That means they're done adding to the rotation, right?

Maybe, but maybe not. The Yankees saw how quickly depth could be tested as three-fifths of their rotation went down due to injury during spring training. That to led Marcus Stroman, a man who had become persona non grata and the most superfluous of spare parts, being a critical member of the starting rotation. And then he got hurt, too.

What can seem flush can become dangerously thin in the blink of an eye, and the Yankees already have to worry about Gerrit Cole and Carlos Rodón not hitting snags in their returns from injury. Throw in the fact that Weathers has a checkered injury history and the uncertainty as to what his actual role will be, and it becomes clear that they need more depth.

They might be able to find that in a former division rival: Tomoyuki Sugano.

Tomoyuki Sugano could be the perfect depth option for the Yankees' rotation

New York has mostly been linked to star-level arms for the rotation in trade discussions this winter. Peralta and Gore both had sizzle at some points, Edward Cabrera got close, and the Detroit Tigers quickly laughed Brian Cashman off the phone when he checked in on Tarik Skubal.

The Yankees don't need a star, however. They need length and competence. Those are two things that Sugano, a former Oriole and NBP star, could provide.

The 36-year-old isn't what you'd typically call an upside play, but in a way he has the potential to ascend a bit more than most hurlers his age. He was a rookie last season, adapting to a new league, a higher level of competition, and a new culture on and off the diamond.

In Japan, pitchers typically pitch once a week, but running a six-man rotation was not a concession the Orioles made for the long-time NPB stalwart. Still, Sugano made 30 starts, logging 157 innings. His 4.64 ERA wasn't pretty, but perhaps with the year of experience under his belt, he can improve from there.

It's not like he hasn't had success in the past. During his final season with the Yomiuri Giants in 2024, he posted a stellar 1.67 ERA, which came on the strength of stellar command (0.92 BB/9) and a healthy ground ball rate (50.9%). Never overpowering, Sugano is a junk-baller who thrived on inducing weak contact.

There's a chance that he could find success with that approach now that he's gotten some familiarity with the competition. He already excelled at limiting walks last season, posting a superb 5.3% walk rate. He also did a pretty decent job limiting hard contact, surrendering it at a 39.8% clip, which ranked in the 57th percentile.

The Yankees don't need another ace. They just need some depth, and he could be a cheap option to provide that. Worst-case scenario, he gets a couple of early starts, Cole and Rodón come back without a hitch, and no one else gets hurt, all of which forces Sugano into a long man role.

It's not a flashy move, but it's a worthwhile dice roll to add another option to the mix and bet on the potential for a little more than replacement-level performance.