Searching for veteran depth in their starting rotation, the Rockies have agreed to a one-year, $5.1 million contract with right-handed pitcher Tomoyuki Sugano. To make room on the 40-man roster, the Rockies placed oft-injured first baseman Kris Bryant on the 60-day injured list, essentially ruling h im out for spring training. Bryant, who’s struggled with a chronic lower back injury, will make a total of $27 million this season. Colorado Rockies 2026 spring training guide Sugano, 36, is coming off a middling 2025 season with the Orioles, his first in the majors. Known for his durability during his career in Japan, he made 30 starts for Baltimore and pitched 157 innings, while posting a 4.64 ERA. His 5.3% walk rate was excellent, but his 15.1% rate was among the lowest in the majors. Colorado's pitching brain trust has said it wants its starters to have diversified arsenal and Sugano fits the bill. The right-hander throws six different pitches: four-seam fastball, sinker, cutter, sweeper, curveball and splitter. However, his fastball last season averaged just 92.7 mph, so he'll have to get by on command at Coors Field. Related Articles Colorado Rockies 2026 spring training guide A look at the Colorado Rockies pitching woes ahead of spring training Breaking down the Rockies’ crowded outfield heading into 2026 spring training Rockies’ ‘funky, wacky’ starting pitching experiment begins at spring training After Rockies baseball, veteran broadcaster Jerry Schemmel finds another calling | Journal He is the second free agent pitcher signed by Colorado. The other was Michael Lorenzen. Lorenzen is guaranteed $8 million in 2026, and there is a club option for 2027 worth $9 million. Sugano spent his first 12 professional seasons with the Yomiuri Giants (2013-24) in Nippon Professional Baseball, going 136-74 with a 2.43 ERA, 347 walks and 1,585 strikeouts in 276 career games with the Giants. This story will be updated. Want more Rockies news? Sign up for the Rockies Insider to get all our MLB analysis. ...read more read less