OFFICIAL: We’ve acquired RHP Jake Bloss, OF Joey Loperfido, and INF Will Wagner from the Astros in exchange for LHP Yusei Kikuchi. Welcome to our #BlueJays family!
Former Blue Jay Yusei Kikuchi finished ninth in American League Cy Young voting
Photo credit: © Troy Taormina-Imagn Images
Nov 24, 2024, 08:30 ESTUpdated: Nov 29, 2024, 00:36 EST
A member of the 2024 Blue Jays received Cy Young voting.
Last Wednesday, the Cy Young Awards were announced and former Blue Jay Yusei Kikuchi finished ninth in voting, earning a fifth-place vote.
With the Blue Jays, the left-handed starter had a 4.75 ERA and a 3.66 FIP in 115.2 innings pitched, along with a 26.2 K% and a 6 BB%. However, the Blue Jays sold at the trade deadline, trading him to the Houston Astros for Will Wagner, Joey Loperfido, and Jake Bloss.
Kikuchi was fantastic with the Astros, posting a 2.70 ERA and a 3.07 FIP in 60 innings pitched, along with a 31.8 K% and a 5.9 BB%. Overall, Kikuchi finished the season with a 4.05 ERA and a 3.46 FIP in 175.2 innings pitched with a 28 K% and a 6 BB%. Sadly, Kikuchi didn’t get an opportunity to pitch in the postseason, as the Astros were eliminated in two games by the Detroit Tigers.
Unfortunately, this ended a stretch of four seasons where a Blue Jay starter finished as a finalist for the American League Cy Young Award. The 2020 season saw Hyun Jin Ryu finish third in Cy Young voting, 2021 saw Robbie Ray win the Cy Young, while Alek Manoah finished third in voting in 2022, as did Kevin Gausman after the 2024 season.
The left-handed pitcher is currently a free agent and could earn a similar contract to the three-year, $36 million deal the Jays signed him to before the 2022 season. The Athletic’s Jim Bowden predicts he’ll earn a three-year, $42 million, while Spotrac believes he’ll earn around $15 million per season on his next deal.
With that being said, it was a good season for Kikuchi as he’s proven he can be a reliable starter over the past two seasons. It’d be the funniest thing if the Blue Jays sign him, as they’re looking to sign a starter this off-season. Moreover, as it stands they don’t have a left-handed pitcher in the rotation, so there’s certainly a fit there.
As always, you can follow me on Bluesky @ryleydelaney.bsky.social.