Blue Jays sign Kikuchi

The Toronto Blue Jays have come to terms with free-agent southpaw Yusei Kikuchi on a three-year, $36-million deal.

March 12, 2022

By Andrew Hendriks

Canadian Baseball Network

With less than a week to go before their first scheduled spring training game, the Toronto Blue Jays came to terms with free-agent southpaw Yusei Kikuchi on a three-year, $36-million deal.

Kikuchi, 30, has spent parts of three seasons at the MLB level, all of which have come out of the Seattle Mariners’ starting rotation.

Through 70 appearances, the 6-foot product of Morioka, Japan has posted a cumulative ERA of 4.97 with an overall WHIP of 1.403 in 365 2/3 innings. He has struck out 326 batters over that stretch, walking 132 and surrendering 66 home runs.

Kikuchi will join a starting rotation anchored by Jose Berrios, newcomer Kevin Gausman, fellow lefty Hyun-Jin Ryu and Alek Manoah. Other rotation hopefuls include Nate Pearson, Thomas Hatch and Ryan Borucki.

An All-Star for the first time in 2021, Kikuchi represents the second Scott Boras-repped free agent signing in Toronto since Ryu ended a 34-year drought between the super agent and the Canadian club.

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