Astros acquire Yusei Kikuchi from Blue Jays

Astros acquire Yusei Kikuchi from Blue Jays

With less than 24 hours until the 2024 MLB Trade Deadline, the Toronto Blue Jays are sending starting pitcher Yusei Kikuchi to the Houston Astros in exchange for three prospects, ESPN MLB insider Jeff Passan first reported Monday evening.

According to Passan, the three prospects will be starter Jake Bloss, one of the organization’s top prospects, infielder Will Wagner and outfielder Joey Loperfido.

The Houston Astros have acquired left-hander Yusei Kikuchi from the Toronto Blue Jays, sources tell ESPN.

Deal is done.

— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) July 29, 2024

After Erick Fedde was dealt to the St. Louis Cardinals, Kikuchi was one of the best starters left on the market.

In 22 starts this season, he’s pitched to a 4.75 ERA–with a 3.64 FIP–with 130 strikeouts (to just 30 walks) in 115.2 innings. He’s been hit exceptionally hard this year, grading in the 6th percentile in average exit velocity allowed, per Baseball Savant. Though he grades in the 70th percentile and better in whiff rate, strikeout rate and walk rate.

Cardinals acquire Erick Fedde, Dodgers acquire Tommy Edman in three-team trade with White Sox

He joins an injury-riddled rotation where Luis Garcia, Cristian Javier, Lance McCullers Jr. and Jose Urquidy are all for a prolonged period of time with elbow injuries. Framber Valdez and Ronel Blanco have held it together with bubble gum, but they needed additional rotation depth heading into the latter half of the season.

Kikuchi’s a rental, is expected to make $3.3 million for the rest of the season, per Spotrac. The Astros paid a pretty hefty price, all things considered, with Bloss likely going to slot into the Blue Jays rotation right away while Loperfido and Wagner have been quite productive in Triple-A this season.

Depending on other deals made over the next 24 hours, it wouldn’t be surprising if all three get to showcase their talent with the Jays before the end of the 2024 season, barring injury.

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This is a breaking news story. Stay tuned for updates.

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