The Pirates are reportedly re-signing Yoshi Tsutsugo on a one-year, $4MM guarantee. The deal is pending a physical. Tsutsugo is represented by Wasserman.
The Bucs and Tsutsugo have been in contact about a potential extension over the past few weeks, so it’s not a huge surprise they’ve eventually agreed on terms. After stints with the Rays and Dodgers didn’t prove particularly successful, Tsutsugo latched on with the Pirates on a major league deal in mid-August. It was a month-plus trial run with a team already well out of contention, but Pittsburgh could afford to give Tsutsugo everyday playing time down the stretch.
The left-handed hitting first baseman took full advantage, as MLBTR’s Steve Adams explored in late September. Over 144 plate appearances in black and yellow, Tsutsugo hit .268/.347/.535 and popped eight home runs. In addition to tapping into the raw power he’d shown for a decade as one of the better hitters in Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball, Tsutsugo cut his strikeouts substantially in Pittsburgh. After fanning in 29.4% of his 303 plate appearances with Tampa Bay and Los Angeles from 2020-21, he went down on strikes in only 22.9% of his trips to the dish as a Pirate.
It remains to be seen if that run was a sign that Tsutsugo had turned a corner late in his second major league season. There’s a real chance he can’t sustain that kind of output over more than a 43-game sample, and Tsutsugo’s overall numbers as a big leaguer (.209/.309/.388 in 447 plate appearances) aren’t particularly impressive. At a modest $4MM guarantee, though, there’s little risk for the Pirates in giving the 29-year-old (30 on Friday) an opportunity to try to build off his late-season success over an extended showing. If he continues to perform over next season’s first couple months, the rebuilding Bucs could either look to hammer out a longer-term extension or try to move him at next summer’s trade deadline.
Tsutsugo has experience at both first base and in the corner outfield as a big leaguer. When discussing the possibility of bringing him back last week, Pittsburgh general manager Ben Cherington suggested the club would primarily look to deploy him at first base if a deal came together. Now that an extension has been agreed upon, it seems Tsutsugo is in line to assume regular first base duties next season.
That could make fellow lefty-hitting first baseman Colin Moran superfluous. Moran, who was a league average bat over 359 plate appearances in 2021, is projected by MLBTR contributor Matt Swartz for a $4MM arbitration salary and could be a non-tender candidate.
Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette first reported the Pirates and Tsutsugo were in agreement on a one-year, $4MM deal.
Image courtesy of USA Today Sports.
Nice signing for PIT.
Can’t help but think “Sut-Sut-Sudio” when I see his name…
Awesome!
Boom! It might be all downhill with regards to any more free agent signings this year, but the Pirates got their guy. Well done.
Kinda surprised to see the Pirates listed as a possible suitor for Seiya Suzuki. Would be an interesting addition as the kids start to arrive but yeah, hard to believe anything else is coming down the pike
I’m not. Every team in baseball should be trying to sign him considering he has a track record of greatness and the financial commitment will be peanuts compared to what established MLB stars would fetch. I assume a lot of teams are in on him that haven’t been reported.
The “surprise” does not reflect any perceived lack of talent by Suzuki but rather folks thinking his salary will be more than the cheapskate Pirates will spend. Tsutsugo was a great get for a team that spends little.
Yep, he will be a relative bargain to what current crop of free agents is asking, which is an arm and a leg! Fingers crossed, despite it being a longshot.
Exactly. He’d fit in perfectly with the kids who will be arriving here in the next few years. But it doesn’t fit the mission statement of the Nutting group, that’s all
Wow the Bucs actually got a semi-desirable FA to sign. Now to see what we can get for Moran so Yoshi can first instead of dealing with caroms off the Clemente wall
I’d keep Moran just in cause (likely will) Yoshi flops. Who else will man first base?
Thank you.
Chavis, or *gasp* call up Mason Martin
Moran and Chavis will be a nice righty-lefty platoon. If Martin was ready, they would have put him on the 40 man. That could still happen if they trade Moran.
Moran career vs. RHP: .280/.341/.440
vs. LHP: .216/.281/.331
Yoshi career vs. RHP: .194/.309/.373
vs. LHP: .252/.310/.427
Moran 2021 vs. RHP: .288/.352/.432
vs. LHP: .171/.284/.268
Yoshi 2021 vs. RHP: .201/.314/.366
vs. LHP: .258/.275/.424
As you can see, Moran is far better vs. RHP and Tsutsugo is far better vs. LHP.
I’d keep Moran for another year and give Martin time to develop. I think the GM thinks this way and only signed Yoshi to one year. Otherwise, they would have let Yoshi go and brought up Martin now
Awesome, I really like Yoshi. Adds some pop to a line-up that doesn’t have a lot of it. Now I wonder if Moran will be gone.
4 million nice Big spenders in Pittsburgh. Go get Frazier
I am curious to see which team lands him. Could be a bargain if he’s past his concussion. Cleveland would be a good destination, as certainly could be the the Mets across town and a few other spots. He should pick a team that will more or less guarantee him a full-time role if he’s healthy.
Frazier?
Clint was released
I could see a deal where Moran and Newman head to the Yankees.
That may be a possible trade but only if the Yankees get rid of Voit and see something in Moran,who is only a decent hitter,that he has not shown in Pittsburgh.
This would also allow Tucker to sink or swim before the youngsters start arriving.
Team has to be pretty dire to want to give anything useful for newman moran.
MLB- My guess is that Nutting may have a good idea that the DH is coming to the NL next year.Yoshi would fill that position if it does.
@Mendoza Line – That’s what I’m thinking. Yoshi can’t play 1B and DH simultaneously. If they get rid of Moran, they’ll need another 1B/DH type. I think they’re all done now, except for #2 Catcher, unless they bring in more pitching. I think the lineup could be:
C – Stallings/?????
1B/DH – Moran/Tsutsugo
2B/SS – Newman/Tucker/Chavis/Cruz
3B – Hayes/Chavis/Moran
LF – Alford/Allen
CF – Reynolds/Allen
RF – Gamel/Allen/Cruz
That’s 13 Hitters
I don’t care to speculate on the pitching just yet. I assume they’ll go with 13.
Add Chavis to the 1B/DH depth as he will likely face LHP and Moran will face RHP.
I hope so. We know what Moran gives us and that’s an extremely average bat without any pop. I’d rather see them give Yoshi a chance to prove this wasn’t a fluke. Pirates haven’t had a legit power threat in years. Maybe he can provide a spark in that regard.
How about newman moran for andjular frazier? Who says no?
I think Frazier is a free agent now.
Given the targets the Yanks are looking at for SS, why would they want Newman?
Stop gap for the shortstops they have in the minors. If anything, I think the Yankees will wait to see what shortstops are left over and offer a one-two year contract. Right now, they are just looking. They won’t be the first to make the big splash.
4 million! The guy has a .209/.309/.388 line for his career
Watch videos of Tsutsugo’s Pirate at-bats late in the season. He looked pretty good.
Something clicked for Yoshi in Pittsburgh. He looked like a completely different player. And he absolutely would have gotten that much or more from another team if he had so chosen.
also, $4M is cheap. he made $7M last year.
$4M is cheap, though. I think he made $7M last year.
YAYYY!!!
I think that Nutting wants to start turning the corner to begin getting decent again and give Pirate fans some hope.They need pitching depth and more decent pitchers like Anderson instead of relying on AAA pitchers half way through the year who are just fill ins.I would like to see them win 75 games this year as that would be clear cut improvement but he needs some low to moderate free agents to win that many games.
Either that or the next CBA might have a low-ball minimum spending threshold to avoid a “tax”.
Well my friend, Christmas has come early for you. The team right now as is will win 75 games. A couple decent free agents they will be pushing 80.
Dream-With all due respect,you are still dreaming.I will be happy with 75 .It would show that they are turning the corner.
In any event,keep your pretty smile,and have a great Thanksgiving young man.
Haha. I enjoy our conversations. We will see. I feel 70 is a lock and feel like they are a 75ish team. Every day is great for me and hope yours is as well.
Agreed. They need to bring in a few arms, and the ones they have need to pitch instead of being handled with kiddie gloves. 4-5 innings isn’t enough out of a starter period, leaves too much risk with the bullpen expected to do that much work.
I hate to say it because I think he’s toast, but I think they will bring in Carlos Martinez and maybe someone else. Just seems like the kind of reclaimation project they’d take under.
congrats!
He certainly seemed to find his footing with the Pirates. Worth the $4 million gamble/bet to see if he can do it for a full season.
Transitioning to MLB from Japan, and attempting to do that during the year of Covid, while also dealing with a part-time role for the first time in his career certainly could have impacted him. We’ll find out in 2022.
Stove is hot in Pittsburgh. What a huge deal. Twice as much as most free agents they sign. 70 wins seems like a lock now.
Dream-Have you quit seeing the glass half full?
Yes. It’s now a almost full big gulp. Even Mendoza has to be seeing things clearly now huh? You want Marte for 4 years at 80 million or Pegureo for 4 years 5 million? You 1 year of Tailon or excited to see what Contreras does the next 6 or 7 years? You aren’t missing Frazier and Rich Rod are you?
Sure the Bell trade isn’t looking promising but those savings just got Yoshi and Quintana. And personally I would have traded a player much better than Bell for the 2 weeks of enjoyment the big Nogowski provided. No need to even mention the 2021 draft. That is worthy of the jedi archives.
Dream-The Taillon trade was a good one.My problem with the Marte trade was I think that they should have waited to get a boatload of prospects similar to the Taillon trade.Anyone worth $80 M now should have brought them. Much more than your friend Llover who did not tear up a class A league this year.I am missing Frazier who did recede with the Padres but would still be a fine utility man especially if they could resign him.Rich Rod cratered at the end for Atlanta which was too bad but I like the starter that the Pirates got in return.I liked the Musgrove trade but knew that he was a good pitcher and the prospects that they received did not do much this year as far as I know.Remember,much like dreams,prospects do not pay off unless they become reality.The 2021 certainly seems like a great one but we shall see.There is certainly hope for the Pirates but this sustained poor record is dragging all fans down.
All the trades were good. They shed salary and improved draft position. Those players weren’t winning anything. Marte stock increased last 2 years. I had Pegureo in my top 100 this time last year. I haven’t had time to do a updated one but figure he is around 50 now. Malone has yet to impress but was 1 of the 3 best highschool pitchers in draft. I loved the Taillon trade but it brought back a low ceiling lf 2 low ceiling pitchers and a loto ticket. Credit to Pirates to increase Contreras fastball. They Yankees couldn’t but Pirates did, impressive. Musgrove was best trade piece, return not looking great. Head is young though, cruz wasn’t supposed to be anything special, fellows is made up player who doesn’t exist, e rod looks solid, bednar is sure thing as you can get.
It’s refreshing to see an optimistic fan on this site. The world is full of Debby downers.
I have no problem with pessimists if their particular subject outlook is based on an extensive track record and overly optimistic expectations and they have reason to believe in realistic consistent outcomes.
On the other hand I have a problem with negative people who constantly complain just to be negative and rarely have a reason to do so.
great. i feel like 5 of his 8 homeruns were against the Cardinals in the span of a week.
If yoshi pushed Moran to bench and O’Neill Cruz pushes Newman to bench that’s good depth.
Agreed, although, if Moran is on the bench, “Who’s on 1B?” Yoshi? Then who is the DH? Also, Yoshi??? He’s good, but I mean…
Now if they sign Suzuki, to play with his friend Yoshi…….And whoever suggested it has a point. Moran and Newman to the Yanks for a couple of lottery tickets makes sense.
If you compare their statistics, Colin Moran is a considerably better hitter. I don’t see why you would replace him with this guy.
If you compare their statistics AS A PIRATE, Yoshi is the better hitter and it’s not remotely close. That said, small sample size and I like Moran. If there is a DH there is room for both.
If Yoshi performs like 2020, it’s a wasted 4M. If he performs like end of 2021, he’s a bargain. For the Bucs to spend 4M and give up a spot on the 40 man on Yoshi, they have to like his chances. And they might also like Yoshi’s chances on helping them acquire Suzuki. Lot easier playing in an environment that you are comfortable and Yoshi can sell that to Suzuki.
@Mute – He’s not likely replacing Moran. They’ll need them both if their is a DH. Moran does have better career stats than Yoshi, as I showed earlier in this thread; although, he doesn’t have better stats for the 6-week stint at the end of the 2021 season. The Bucs are hoping that was not a fluke. I think a righty-lefty platoon of Moran and Chavis would be decent at 1B or DH, and Yoshi goes full-time at either 1B or DH, depending on who is the better defensive 1B between Moran and Yoshi.
Im happy to see the pirates making some low cost, savvy free agent additions on mlb contracts. The pirates have great fans and deserve to see some additions on the field.
The author also needed to talk about next season’s probable NL DH. Then there is room for both Tsutsugo and Moran.
Bingo!
Now go grab Clint Frazier to play right field
Nice. I wanted 1 year all along. 4 mil is nothing really. Still think he could regress but he’s worth a longer look.
Good for Yoshi, Iffy for the Pirates.
for a full rebuild team seems a bit of a waste unless Yoshi and Quintana push through and kick some butt to get a decent return on a rental.
That’s the plan, especially with Quintana. Yoshi hit well in a small sample with the pirates, but can’t play the outfield. It made sense to bring him back and try and flip him if he can have a good start. Pirates won’t be able to afford him if he has a strong season. By the way, when I say can’t afford I really mean cheap out any time bob nutting is involved.