Pitcher Yusei Kikuchi is now a former Blue Jay.
Yeah
The move marks an expected end to Kikuchi’s time in Toronto, making him the first Japanese player in franchise history to pitch for the Astros.
Details of the trade aren’t fully known, but the deal will likely include prospect Jake Bross and two other top prospects. The Athletic reported.
Kikuchi, who is in the final year of a three-year, $36 million contract with the Blue Jays in 2022, told reporters on Friday that Blue Jays general manager Ross Atkins had told him “there’s a very good chance I’ll be traded.”
Coming into Monday’s game against the Orioles, he was posting a 4.75 ERA and striking out 10.1 batters per nine innings, good for the top 10 in the American League.
Blue Jays manager John Schneider said before the trade that Kikuchi was “handling the uncertainty well.”
“Obviously he and his wife love it here,” Schneider said. According to Sportsnet“This is the first time he’s been in this position and he understands it’s part of the business. He’s had enough time to figure it out a little bit. It’s unfortunate, but I would say he’s in good hands.”
This is the second trade made by the Blue Jays on Monday, having also sent Justin Turner to Seattle earlier in the day.
Turner was replaced in the bottom of the second inning during the Blue Jays-Orioles game on Monday afternoon.
The trade was made with the Astros tied with the Mariners for first place in the American League West and the Blue Jays last in the American League East.
