Yoshi Tsutsugo, one of the highlights of the final months of the 2021 season, is returning to the Pirates on a one-year deal, per sources.
The contract is pending a physical and is set to pay him $4 million.
Last week, I reported that Tsutsugo was the one who was initially interested in a one-year deal, as he was looking for a prove-it type contract. With the Pirates, he gets a chance to do just that up, potentially setting himself up for a bigger payday next year if he is able to replicate the success he had with his new club down the stretch.
Of all the potential free agent signings the Pirates could have made this winter, this seemed the most likely. The two sides had "quite a bit" of dialogue throughout the offseason, starting back in October. The Pirates had liked Tsutsugo for a while, dating back to when he was one of the premier sluggers in Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball League. After being designated for assignment twice by the Rays and Dodgers in 2021, Tsutsugo gets to repay the Pirates' faith in him for when they signed him from the Dodgers' Class AAA affiliate. Plus, he gets to stay in a situation where he should have consistent playing time.
In 43 games with the Pirates, Tsutsugo slashed .268/.347/.535 with eight home runs and 25 RBIs. For a team that finished last in baseball in slugging percentage (.364) and home runs (124), Tsutsugo immediately becomes one of their biggest power threats. Despite being on the team for only a month and a half, Tsutsugo's eight home runs were tied with Ben Gamel and Jacob Stallings for the fourth-most on the Pirates, trailing just Bryan Reynolds (24), Gregory Polanco (11) and Colin Moran (10).
There were some concerns with Tsutsugo's Pirates cameo, such as his inconsistencies against the fastball, but he was a much-needed bat.
Tsutsugo, who turns 30 Friday, made the jump stateside during the 2019 offseason, signing a two-year, $12 million contract with the Rays. While he held his own against major league pitching in the abbreviated 2020 season, but he hit just .155 with a .451 OPS over 38 games with the Rays in Dodgers in 2021.
Ben Cherington said last week that the Pirates view Tsutsugo primarily as a first baseman, but know they can use him in the outfield as well. That would be a reversal of how he was used in 2021, where he was mostly used in right but also got reps at first base. The only other first baseman on the 40-man roster is Moran.
Moran is projected to make $4 million in his second year of arbitration, going by MLB Trade Rumors' model, and could potentially be a non-tender candidate now that Tsutsugo has re-signed, though the two could potentially co-exist because of the overwhelming likelihood that the designated hitter is coming to the National League next season.
The Pirates will need to have to make a corresponding roster move for Tsutsugo and José Quintana, who has an agreement with place with the Pirates, but the signing has yet to be formally announced. The non-tender deadline for players in Nov. 30.
