The Houston Astros have acquired left-hander Yusei Kikuchi and will send right-hander Jake Bloss, rookie outfielder Joey Loperfido and infielder Will Wagner to the Toronto Blue Jays, per Ken Rosenthal and Chandler Rome of The Athletic. Kikuchi is in the final year of a three-year, $36 million deal he signed with the Blue Jays before the 2022 season. He will be owed $10 million before becoming a free agent this offseason.
Kikuchi, 33, had many highs and lows with the Blue Jays, losing a rotation spot in 2022. Since then, he improved to become a strong starter, having started a league-leading 22 games this season.
Astros Add Yusei Kikuchi from the Blue Jays
Kikuchi is behind Jack Flaherty as the next-best rental starter on the trade market. Houston was tied to Flaherty along with Jameson Taillon, Erick Fedde and Zach Eflin last week. Instead, the Astros added Kikuchi to their injury-depleted rotation. With the Seattle Mariners going out and getting Randy Arozarena, Yimi Garcia and Justin Turner, the Astros needed to make a move.
When Kikuchi signed to his three-year pact, the first impressions weren’t so good. He posted a 5.19 ERA and lost his spot in the rotation when he struggled with control and confidence. Kikuchi bounced back with a nice season in 2023, posting a 3.86 ERA over 167 2/3 innings. This season Kikuchi has been inconsistent, carrying a 4.75 ERA over 115 2/3 innings this year. However, he has struck out 26.2 percent of batters while walking only six percent of them altogether. He ranks 19th in the strikeout percentage and 16th in strikeout/walk rate differential. Kikuchi is getting swinging strikes at a 12.4 percent rate which puts him in the top 30 in that group.
The Astros have been hit hard by pitching injuries this year. Cristian Javier and Jose Urquidy are out due to Tommy John surgery and J.P. France went down with a season-ending shoulder issue. Kikuchi immediately slots into a mid-rotation role behind Ronel Blanco, Hunter Brown, Spencer Arrighetti and Framber Valdez. With Kikuchi’s prior experience in a relief role, he could pitch in that type of situation once Justin Verlander and Luis Garcia return from the injured list.
The Return for the Blue Jays
Bloss, who was the club’s third-round pick in last year’s MLB Draft, began the season with a 2.08 ERA and 25 strikeouts in 17 1/3 innings with High-A Ashville. He made his major league debut on June 22 after getting promoted from Double-A Corpus Christi to fill a spot in Houston’s rotation. Bloss could slot into the Blue Jays rotation for its series this week in Baltimore. One of the Astros’ top pitching prospects, Bloss had a 1.48 ERA and 38 strikeouts in 48 2/3 innings across his last nine minor league starts in Double-A.
Loperfido hit his way to the big leagues this season after hitting for a combined .278/.370/.510 between three minor league levels last season. The seventh-round draft pick made his debut earlier this year and was hitting .236 with two home runs and 16 RBI. However, he was leading the minor leagues with 13 home runs when he was promoted for the first time in April. Wagner, the son of former Astros closer Billy Wagner, was hitting .307/.424/.429 at Triple-A. Wagner divided his time between first, second and third base this year. He is eligible for the Rule 5 draft this winter if not selected onto the 40-man roster.
Main Photo: © Kevin Sousa-USA TODAY Sports
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