Major League Baseball’s Blue Jays pitcher Yusei Kikuchi has been traded to the American League West-leading Astros.
This was announced by the Blue Jays on the 29th.
Kikuchi joined the Mariners from the Seibu Lions in 2019 and was traded to the Blue Jays in 2022, where he achieved 11 wins with an ERA of 3.86 last season, marking his first double-digit win season in Major League Baseball.
This season, his final year of a three-year contract, he has struggled with a record of 4 wins and 9 losses and an ERA of 4.75, but he has showcased his strong pitching by striking out 130 batters over 115.2 innings. Given that his team is currently at the bottom of the American League East, there has been speculation among American media about a trade to a team looking to secure a playoff spot.
The Astros have reached the playoffs for seven consecutive years and are a strong team, having won the World Series in 2017 and the year before last.
Although they got off to a slow start this season, they have bounced back with a powerful lineup centered around players like Jose Altuve, who won the season MVP in their 2017 championship year. They currently lead the American League West with the highest team batting average in the league.
On the other hand, their starting pitchers have struggled with an ERA ranked 10th in the league, making Kikuchi, who can consistently pitch deep into games, a targeted acquisition.
Three promising young players from the Astros will be traded to the Blue Jays.
In Major League Baseball, there is a deadline for player trades set for the end of July to early August each year, roughly two-thirds through the season.
Teams that are performing well up to this point become “buyers” in the trade market, actively seeking to enhance their rosters for playoff aspirations or further World Series ambitions. Conversely, teams that are struggling often become “sellers,” looking to offload key players and acquire promising young talent for rebuilding purposes.
Kikuchi’s Blue Jays have been at the bottom of the American League East and have acted as a “seller” in this season’s trade market.
Although Kikuchi has only achieved 4 wins this season, he has not suffered long-term injuries since moving to Major League Baseball in 2019, and stable pitching is expected until the end of the season. His average pitch speed this season is 153.8 kilometers per hour, ranking among the top for left-handed starting pitchers.
Being mentioned as a trade candidate at this time indicates that he is expected to be an important “piece” for a team gearing up for the playoff race, and Kikuchi himself has mentioned in previous interviews, “At 33, I have a strong desire to win, and if I am selected by any team, it would be an honor.”
With this season being the final year of his three-year contract, Kikuchi will become a free agent after the season ends.
For Kikuchi, performing well with a new team could lead to a significant contract beyond this season, making it essential for him to contribute to leading his team to victory.