BRADENTON, Fla. -- Despite several reports out of Japan in recent days, the Pirates and free agent infielder/outfielder Yoshi Tsutsugo do not have a deal in place.
However, the two sides are talking “quite a bit,” per a source, and there is mutual interest in a reunion, even if it is just for a one-year deal, potentially.
The one-year preference is from Tsutsugo’s side of the negotiations. The asking price is not known, but it seems safe to assume it would be for less than the $6 million average salary he signed for during the 2019 offseason with the Rays.
That two-year, $12 million deal didn’t work out for the Rays, who designated him for assignment in May. He was traded to the Dodgers, where he outrighted to the club’s Class AAA affiliate after an underwhelming month at the plate and a month-long right calf injury.
The Pirates gave him another chance in the majors in mid-August, liking him back when he was one of the premier sluggers in Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball league. He finished the year on a tear, hitting eight home runs with an .883 OPS over 43 games with the Pirates. The club’s faith in him and willingness to give him another chance made them the early favorites to re-sign him.
It may just be for one year, though. Tsutsugo will turn 30 on Nov. 26, so if he has a big year, he would be a much more desirable free agent next offseason. If he has a couple good months and the Pirates fall out of contention, then he could also be moved to a contender at the trade deadline.
There’s obvious appeal for the Pirates in that trade scenario too, especially since 2022 doesn’t look like the year the team snaps its six-year playoff drought. They still want to improve from last year’s 101-loss season, and Tsutsugo provides them a potential power bat, something the lineup sorely needs. Last year’s team finished last in baseball in home runs (124) and slugging percentage (.364).
While the Pirates used Tsutsugo primarily as a right fielder, there is no guarantee he would be used in that same role again, especially since he was worth -5 defensive runs saved at that position. The designated hitter is expected to come to the National League next year, and he could potentially fill that role while also filling in a the corner infield and outfield spots to cycle some people into the DH spot and get them off their feet.
“We have an interest in retaining him and confident if we do that, there's an important place on the team for him,” Ben Cherington said in late October. “We’ll figure it out.”
There is no timetable for when Tsutsugo could potentially sign, though the current collective bargaining agreement between the league and players association is set to expire Dec. 1, with the expectation being there won’t be a new deal in place by then. That seems to be creating a sense of urgency for free agents across the league, with more signing in November than we have seen in recent years.
