Mar 12, 2022
Blue Jays reach three-year agreement with Kikuchi
The Toronto Blue Jays have made another big off-season splash. TSN Blue Jays Reporter Scott Mitchell has confirmed the Jays are in agreement with left-hander Yusei Kikuchi on a three-year, $36 million deal.
TSN.ca Staff
The Toronto Blue Jays have made another big off-season splash.
#BlueJays were very interested in Kikuchi before he originally signed with Seattle, so they’ve found a way to get two previous targets in Kikuchi and Kevin Gausman this off-season.
— Scott Mitchell (@ScottyMitchTSN) March 12, 2022
Lots of upside here, especially as a No. 5, but there’s no doubt he’s underperformed.
TSN Blue Jays Reporter Scott Mitchell has confirmed the Jays are in agreement with left-hander Yusei Kikuchi on a three-year, $36 million deal.
Mitchell tweets the Jays were originally interested in Kikuchi before he signed with the Seattle Mariners prior to the 2019 season.
Bob Nightengale of USA Today reports the deal is front-loaded, with $16 million due in 2022 and $10 million in 2023 and 2024.
Yusei Kikuchi's 3-year, $36 million contract with the #Bluejays is front-loaded:
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) March 12, 2022
$16 million in 2022
$10 million in 2023
$10 million in 2024
The 30-year-old spent the last three seasons with the Mariners, pitching to a 4.41 ERA in 157.0 innings spread out over 29 starts. It was by far his best season since making the jump from Japan to the MLB as he combined for 5.39 ERA in 41 starts in his first two seasons in pitcher-friendly T-Mobile Park in Seattle.
"Lots of upside here, especially at No. 5, but there's no doubt he's underperformed," Mitchell tweets.
In eight NPB seasons, Kikuchi owns a record of 73-46 to go along with a 2.77 ERA and 1.16 WHIP.
As of now, the Blue Jays project to go into the season with a starting rotation of Jose Berrios, Kevin Gausman, Hyun Jin Ryu, Alek Manoah and Kikuchi.