The Baltimore Orioles front office could perhaps make more of a collective effort this offseason regarding their pitching staff.

With Corbin Burnes being the hottest starter on the market and likely needing a $250 million contract, the Orioles could see that as something they want to avoid.

Maybe those are the wrong decisions, but that’s no one’s fault but themselves.

There is a scenario where they could see signing two or three starters as a better option than spending heavily on Burnes.

Depending on who they signed, it might not be the wrong idea. Sure, they wouldn’t have an ace, which wouldn’t help, but if they had three starters with slightly above-average production, that could help them in the long run.

Baltimore’s pitching staff was derailed by injuries, providing a reason why they might decide to go this route.

There will also be multiple options as the starting pitching market is full of above average to average players.

This also includes Japanese star Tomoyuki Sugano. Sugano doesn’t have as much hype as some of the other international stars who have entered Major League Baseball in free agency in recent winters, but that has to do with his age.

The right-hander is 35 years old.

Despite his age, the Orioles could use a pitcher of his caliber, especially if they lose Burnes.

Jim Bowden from The Athletics recently linked the two together and wrote that Baltimore could be one of the top players for him.

“Tomoyuki Sugano has gone 136-75 with a 2.45 ERA and 1,596 strikeouts in 12 NPB seasons with the Yomiuri Giants. This year, he posted a 1.67 ERA and 0.945 WHIP in 24 starts. He is a two-time winner of the Sawamura Award, which is equivalent to the Cy Young Award in Japan, Sugano has a six-pitch mix and he pounds the strike zone with elite command and control.

Bowden predicted the contracts of almost every other free agent he listed, but didn’t do that with Sugano because it’s hard to get a feel for a player comparison. Few 35-year-old free agents have hit the market for the first time in MLB history.

Pitchers who have come to Major League Baseball from Japan have often found success, a positive sign for the Orioles if they want to give him a chance.

Signing him will likely come down to his price. He might not leave Japan for a cheap contract, so that’s something they need to consider.