Why did the Rockies sign Tomoyuki Sugano and Jose Quintana?

When Colorado Rockies president of baseball operations Paul DePodesta said the team planned to add another starter, he wasn’t kidding.

Before Wednesday was over, credible rumors suggested the Rockies would sign not just Japanese RHP Tomoyuki Sugano but LHP Jose Quintana as well.

Enough has been written about their respective arsenals that I’m going to pass on the analysis and spend this newsletter considering what the signings may mean for the Rockies in the long term.

The Rockies needed more pitching — This one’s a no-brainer: The Rockies simply did not have enough starting pitching. Remember: In 2025, the Rockies starters had the highest single-season starter ERA in MLB history since adoption of the stat (6.65); the highest hard-hit percentage (39.2%); the highest HR/9 (1.76); and the fewest innings pitched. Clearly, what the Rockies were doing wasn’t working, so the best way to fix that is to sign free agents who will, hopefully, shore up that part of the Rockies’ game, pitchers who throw better and deeper into games. (It will also reduce wear and tear on the bullpen.)

The Rockies want pitchers with bigger pitch mixes — This is something DePodesta as well as general manager Josh Byrnes and pitching coach Alon Leichman have all discussed. “I think a deep arsenal is that much more important for us. It is hard on hitters because they have to account for it,” Byrnes told Troy Renck. “That should translate at altitude.” In other words, the days in which hitters could just sit on a Rockies fastball should be over.

The Rockies want experienced pitchers — I’ve written before about the Rockies wanting players and staff who want to be at Coors Field and take on the challenges inherent to playing at elevation. To this point, Lorenzen has been the poster child for this attitude: a confident nerdy [complimentary] pitcher ready to take on any problem. Sugano and Quintana bring their own arsenals and experiences.

But I assume the Rockies are also looking for pitchers who know how to deal with adversity. In a media availability yesterday, DePodesta said that every conversation they’ve had with free agents pitchers starts by asking them how they feel about pitching at Coors Field. These players are clear about what they’ve signed on for.

In addition, experienced pitchers can mentor the Rockies’ developing rotation. “These are older players that can provide great leadership and a model for younger players,” Warren Schaeffer said.

In a media availability yesterday, Sugano pointed out that he likes working with and teaching young pitchers. So there’s a clear developmental component at work here. Look, I, for one, hope Sugano teaches every prospect how to throw a killer splitter.

The Rockies want to give prospects time to develop — If anyone wondered whether Chase Dollander would break camp with the Rockies, that question has probably been answered. Unlike the previous front office, this group will not promote players before they are ready. Last season, we watch some young pitchers endure some pretty serious smackdowns. This is an attempt to keep that from happening again.

The Rockies should have players to trade at the deadline — It’s just a fact that pitching always has a prime value when the trade deadline arrives. Often, contending teams find that they don’t have enough arms. In signing these pitchers, the Rockies will have players to trade should they prove viable, and in making those trades, the Rockies can work on replenishing their farm system.

It helps, incidentally, that the Rockies paid real contacts for these pitchers — this wasn’t $1-million-for-Dakota-Hudson move.

The Rockies have shown that free agent pitchers are willing to sign in Colorado — Granted, these are just three pitchers, and none of them is probably contending for a Cy Young, but they are reputable pitchers. In signing them, the Rockies are signaling to other free agent pitchers that it’s a new day in Colorado. If they can get Lorenzen, Quintana, and Sugano to sign, hopefully other free agents will follow.

They’ve begun to open the door for signing more Japanese baseball players — One largely overlooked area in the Rockies scouting has been Asia. Clearly, that is changing, a point indicated by assistant general manager Tommy Tanous and DePodesta.

In signing Sugano, the Rockies have only their fourth Japanese player in franchise history, their first since 2011. In addition to signaling to other Japanese players that the Rockies are looking to sign Japanese players, it opens the door to the immense Japanese baseball market. It is difficult to overstate the media frenzy that follows Shohei Ohtani — truly, you have to see it to believe it. Although Sugano does not have Ohtani’s celebrity, he’s a very popular baseball player in Japan, and Japanese reporters covered his press conference as well as DePodesta’s media availability. Any player that can get Japanese fans following the Rockies baseball is a win.

It’s probably too much to expect the Rockies rotation to be good in 2026. But it should most assuredly be better, and for a rebuilding team, that’s enough. In the meantime, Lorenzen, Quintana, and Sugano will all be participating in the World Baseball Classic, which means that the Rockies prospects will have plenty of opportunities during spring training.

Closing thoughts

DePodesta has said to expect this to be a changing roster, and I take him at his word on that front. I think this season is going to give Rockies plans plenty of things to talk about.

It won’t always be pretty, but I tend to think it will generally be interesting, and after the last five years, I’ll take that.

As always, thanks for reading —

Renee

Rockies Pitch is a newsletter that focuses on Colorado Rockies baseball.

Find me on Bluesky at @ReneeDechert.com or send an email to Renee@RockiesPitch.com