The Blue Jays are signing left-handed pitcher Yusei Kikuchi, per Jon Heyman of MLB Network. It’s a three-year, $36MM contract. (Twitter links) The deal is frontloaded, per Bob Nightengale of USA Today, with Kikuchi earning a salary of $16MM in 2022, followed by $10MM in each of 2023 and 2024.
Starting pitching has been a hot commodity this offseason, with most of the top names signing before the lockout. Now that the transactions freeze has thawed, the market has picked up right where it left off. The top two free agent hurlers that lingered on the market through the lockout, Clayton Kershaw and Carlos Rodon, signed on the first full day after the lockout ended. That left Kikuchi and Zack Greinke as the only healthy starters remaining from MLBTR’s list of Top 50 Free Agents. With the Jays scooping up Kikuchi, that leaves Greinke as the last man standing.
Kikuchi has been one of the more difficult pitchers to evaluate since coming over from Japan prior to the 2019 season. In his first MLB season, he made 32 starts for the Mariners, throwing 161 2/3 innings with an ERA of 5.46 and a strikeout rate of just 16.1%. In the shortened 2020 campaign, he made nine starts and still had a high ERA of 5.11, but made huge strides in the strikeout department, bumping his rate up to 24.2%.
2021 was a tale of two seasons for Kikuchi, as the first half his campaign was excellent. At the start of July, MLBTR’s Steve Adams wrote about Kikuchi’s season around the midway point, when Kikuchi had made 15 starts and was sitting on an ERA of 3.18, strikeout rate of 25.4%, walk rate of 8.5% and ground-ball rate of 53.8%. But things went completely in the opposite direction in the second half of the season, as Kikuchi threw 63 2/3 innings from that point on, with a 6.22 ERA, 23.3% strikeout rate, 10.3% walk rate and 41.7% ground-ball rate.
As part of the unusual structure of Kikuchi’s contract, at the end of the season, the Mariners then had to decide whether or not to execute a series of four one-year options valued at $16.5MM each, effectively a four-year, $66MM extension that would cover the 2022-25 seasons. After they declined, then Kikuchi could have selected a one-year, $13MM player option for the 2022. Though it seemed there was a chance he would accept that deal after his poor performance down the stretch, he ultimately declined and tested the free agent market. That has now proven to be a wise decision on his part, as he has earned himself a new contract at that exact rate but three times as long.
The Blue Jays were evidently encouraged enough by Kikuchi’s strengths to overlook his weaknesses, much like they were with Robbie Ray and Steven Matz. Although those two pitchers had serious flaws on their respective resumes, they both went on to have excellent campaigns with the Jays in 2021, with Ray earning the American League Cy Young award. Although Ray and Matz will both be wearing new uniforms this year, Kikuchi is still going to be joining a strong rotation. The club also added Kevin Gausman prior to the lockout, joining Jose Berrios, Hyun Jin Ryu and Alek Manoah. That is likely to be the club’s front five, but they also have Ross Stripling on hand, who could function either as a starter or long-man out of the bullpen. Nate Pearson could potentially join the rotation at some point, though he has durability concerns after throwing just 18 innings in 2020 and just 45 2/3 in 2021.
After the lockout, the 2022 season is going to feature a condensed Spring Training and a regular season with added double-headers to make up for the delayed start to the campaign. Those factors, combined with the dwindling options in the free agent market, led the Jays to take a risk by bolstering their depth with a pitcher who has had flashes of excellence but also definite concerns.
As for the structure of the deal, it’s worth pointing out that the Blue Jays also front-loaded their contract with George Springer. This seems to be a way of taking advantage of the fact that most of the club’s core players are still working their way through arbitration and will only get increasingly expensive in the coming years. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is arbitration eligible for the first time this year as a Super Two player. Teoscar Hernandez will be playing his second of three arbitration seasons in 2022. Bo Bichette and Jordan Romano won’t be arbitration eligible until next year. By paying Springer and Kikuchi more now, the club will have a little bit extra wiggle room to weather the increasing salaries of those players in the coming seasons.
Image courtesy of USA Today Sports.
Wth!
Nice! That rotation is one of the best in baseball
By far the best in all of Canada
Lol, nice
Pete , your last name excites me.
Kind of a Square name, in a Hollywood sort of way.
Circle gets the square.
NO this rotation is not by far the best in baseball. It thankfully has quality depth but it doesn’t have an alpha front of the roation starter.
It has a #2 {Berrios}, two 3’s [Gausman and Ryu], a #4 in Manoah who will get better, and the rest are unknowns or #5’s. {Kikuchi, Stripling, Garcia).
Kay and Pearson are NOT starters. Give that one a rest. They are both relievers. Kay is a one inning max effort 7th inning guy and Pearson could be a closer if someone in the Jays gets their head on right and teaches him to relax and pitch rather than throw.
Ryu alternates between being a high end fourth and a low end ace each year. This should be an ace year lol
Manoah a number 4# starter bro what are you smoking I want some!
Braves Fan 138:
I know right? I wish my team had a #4 guy that posted a 136 ERA+ in his first year as a 23 year-old.
Jimmer doesn’t smoke he uses mushrooms lol.
Jimmer, Gausman is a #1-2. He’s really good. Kikuchi a wild card, Manoah hopefully is a 3. So Gausman (#2), Berrios (#2), Ryu (#3), Manoah (#3). That’s your playoff rotation.
And then you have options for 5th starter and BP (Kay, Pearson, Kikuchi, Hatch).
I don’t really understand the Kikuchi add, but I always felt he’d be dynamite as a reliever. So we’ll see if the Jays get creative and get the most out of him. He’s got a live arm, just his pitch mix is kind of not great for a starter.
This is a terrible take
That’s the only kind of takes jimmer ever has.
Manoah is the best number 4 of all time lol. He’s probably the best pitcher in that rotation. It’s a good rotation.
what kind of brownies did u bake?
Still falls way short of Milwaukee’s, imho. But I know, you said “one” of the better. I agree.
Overpay much for a guy whos never seen an ERA below 4.41? Could see him being a decent pickup, but still an overpay if you ask me.
Think the consensus is that Kikuchi could have some untapped potential in the tank — likely ran up his price a bit.
Kikuchi has a very live arm but can’t spin a breaking ball or a changeup for the life of him. Maybe there’s some Pete Walker magic there.
$10mil is about average for that production now.
It’s still crazy to me to know that, even in MLB’s economy, that’s true.
That’s the cost of competing in the AL East. He’s a steady pitcher; won’t win a CYA. Jays are also getting his prime years.
Pete , your last name excites me.
If you were old enough you would have remembered Pete LaCock from the Chicago Cubs. Son of Peter Marshall, from the Hollywood Squares.
I remember him with the Royals.
My mom told me stories about him. said I resemble him and the mailman.
Peter Marshall or Pierre LaCock is still kicking. 94 years old. So is Bob Barker. He’s 98. Johnny Gilbert is still announcing for Jeopardy. He’s 98.
@Hammer please quit 30 words or less
Stop it! 🙂
In 2020 in he had a 5.17 ERA but a 3.30 FIP. I do believe there’s potential with this guy and I do believe Toronto has superior defense so quality signing in my book
Don’t read anything into 2020 stats.
Its his 2019 and 2021 stats I really look at. He looked good first half of the year, but folded as the season went. The guy is very homer prone, not gonna bode well for him in the AL East. His only saving grace is the one team from that division he wont have to play is the Jays.
If I recall correctly he had a really good start agains the jays last year
I think 3/25 mil would’ve done it.
I doubt it. I think the Jays probably paid (approximately) the going-rate.
Lfg, open the floodgates!
Nice, Stripling goes back to a spot start swing role, Pearson is in the BP or AAA
I still predict a Blue Jays/Giants World Series this decade.
Let’s goooo!!!!!
I also predict Braves/White Sox, Padres/Red Sox, Dodgers/Rangers and Yankees/Brewers.
None of those will happen. Good try
Pittsburgh/Baltimore
The Mets won’t be champions anytime soon.
Marlins/Orioles
Cardinals/Angels at the end of the decade
Mets will be before brewers, Padres or rangers, you neophyte
Incorrect. The Mets are cursed.
Your life is cursed.
False. My team just won a championship four months ago and they went through both the Dodgers and the Astros in the process.
I don’t care at all
You don’t care at all about World Championships? Must be a Mets fan.
@48
I’d predict that you have predictions that you haven’t even thought of yet. 🙂
HeHell’ll yeah
For that kind of money, they can have him. Team ownerships crying poor and paying this kind of money out for that track record?
‘That kind of money’? 12 million?
the 3 year commitment is the big thing. This guy in the AL East will get lit up.
Same thing everyone said about Robbie Ray when the Jays signed him.
Pete walker will take that bet.
In 2019 he would’ve been. Depends upon which baseball is used this year.
@cjmask
What??? First off Robbie Ray had a better and longer track record, was younger and signed a $8M, 1-year deal. Where do you see any analogy to Ray?
Yes, This is the kind of player would have gotten a $6-8M one year deal with a team option for $8-10, with maybe a $1M buyout. He’s someone who’s had years that one can only describe as very bad to horrible.
This is a reasonable contract, and it has been reported for months that Rogers was going to spend this offseason to improve the team. Kikuchi may indeed be a #5 starter, but he’s an upgrade over Stripling and could very well be a lot better than a back of the rotation piece. Nice job Jays.
He will get lit up in the AL East. one year $12 fine. Another 2 years after that? Not smart. He is 32 this year, there is not a lot of potential.
move stripling in a package for jram
Will he be driving Moreno and Groshans to Cleveland?
I’ll drive all 3 of them at my expense and pay for Jrams flight to TO if we can make that official
Moneyball, it’s going to take a ton to get Jose Ramirez. And Stripling probably wouldn’t even be a part of any deal. He’s a depth piece at best.
And 3 more prospects.
The Mets were ‘allegedly’ in on Kikuchi. You have to take these reports with a grain of salt
@Camden453
He probably rejected the Mets since they are cursed.
@48team You hate so hard on the Mets. It must feel good to have a micro peen, you sloppy human.
for how long have you been focused on talking with others about the size of their peen? can you remember the first time you felt it important to raise this topic with someone? if you can trace back the circumstances of this behavior, it may inform you about something important within yourself that you should try to understand.
It’s not that they’re cursed it’s just that a losing tradition breeds losing…after a while everyone- the fans, the front office, etc gets shaky about it
It’s a new regime with a reshaped front office. This take is as tiring as the Astros’ trash can banging meme.
The trashtros will never get old
They know that. The detractors are only now coming out in force because Cohen has the resources to spend $300M for the next few seasons while simultaneously investing ~$250M in building out the Mets analytics department. It’s a frightening proposition, seeing how Cohen is a brilliant, analytical, billionaire hedge fund manager and venture capitalist. He’s the most unique owner in sports. So let the haters like @MarlinsFanBase and @48-team MLB pound the same, tired drum about the Met’s past. We all know they’re internally panicking about the Mets future. It’s good to be a Mets fan, boys!
“tHe mEtS aRe CuRsEd”
I feel like they could have got a fifth starter on a one year deal. Big risk here.
I wouldnt say big risk, but a risk yes.
Either way, the fact that they could have started the year with Stripling or Pearson at #5 but still looked to improve is a good sign.
Lots of good starters looking to go to Canada on cheap one year deals. Sigh.
They’re looking for a back of the rotation arm. They got a guy. Of course they overpaid, it’s Canada and no one’s going unless they pay more $ over more years. So cut them some slack. At least they’re trying. I look at it as paying 2×10 if he was going to the Sox and that’s about market.
Yah that’s some BS.
Toronto is top 5 place to work and live in North America, very easily. Safe, great restaurants, good schools for kids etc. With an exciting young team ready to be competitive, why would they need to overpay?
I’m guessing Toronto may not even be top 5 in Canada, let alone In North America. But sure, lots Americqns looking to pull up stakes and move to Toronto. I think the crush at the border of people trying to move to Canada from California, Texas, New York, Mass. etc must weigh down your border guards. Must be the govt health care.
Toronto had to give Ryu 4. Berrios 7 (!!!). Gausman 5. Springer 6.
tax implications vs some states is just one thought.
I’m not going to argue with the fact that 3 of the 5 guys you listed as overpays aren’t even American lol.
Guasman would have got 5 anywhere, Springer meh, maybe a bit over pay by one year. So you have on example to back up your trash opinion.
Should we now try the same for literally any other team in the US that has signed free agents the last few years?
Canadian tax rates don’t differ all that much from the bigger blue states in the US. So yes one can easily argue that playing in florida or texas would be more desirable vs playing in Toronto financially but you can make that case over New York and CA as well.
Of course they overpaid Cole, it’s New York! No one’s going unless they pay more money.
Of course they overpaid Seager it’s Texas!
No one’s going unless they pay more money.
Of course they overpaid Rendon it’s Anaheim!
No one’s going unless they pay more money.
Are you going to admit that you’re wrong? Or you going to put your tail between your legs and hide like you always do when someone proves how stupid the things you say are
He’s a bit butt hurt that you had the audacity to suggest that just maybe other cities in the world could possibly be as good or better than a city in “Murica.
I’m guessing you don’t put too much thought into anything you do or say. Thinking is okay, but too much is exhausting?
What schools do you mean? That’s a big disincentive for people with young children whose employers would like them to transfer for a while to Canada. The only schools they have are the govt schools. Sorry to break it to you Dusty but the Socialist Paradise is an unappealing destination.
If you think Canada is full on socialist you have been indoctrinated by the likes of Tucker Carlson. I have lived and worked all over the world and Canada is one of the most free countries in the world with one of the best standards of living and lowest crime rates. ( There is a reason Canada is consistently in the Top 5 best countries to live rankings ) As for schools why do people without a clue insist on putting their ignorance on full display online. There are tons of private schools in Canada.
That’s cute that you don’t think 100k a year private schools don’t exist in Canada
Your ignorance is truly breathtaking. Toronto has some of the best private schools in the world. My classmates were kids from royal families in Europe. My parents neighbor was a raptor whose two daughters loved their school.
And that raptor came back to Toronto after his playing career was over to work for the team. The city loved him and he loved the city. The Junk Yard Dog. Great guy and incredibly bright.
@Shakermo. Used to date a Canadian and travelled to Toronto plenty. I’d chose it over many American cities if I had to move.
I had to laugh at this one. Tucker Carlson? I don’t know if I’ve watched him more than once or twice in my life. The only people I think watch that are old folks looking for their ‘Libs Gone Wild’ daily fix, or young ‘progressives’ looking for their opposites to get mad about. But seriously thanks for the chuckle.
I don’t think there are tons of private schools in Canada. I think it’s like sending your kids to the San Francisco School Board. Maybe worse, because in SF you could recall those clowns. Can you in Canada?
See you just summed up your problem ” You think” versus taking the time to actually find out. A common ailment amongst many of you. Take the time to research something you know nothing about and you won’t look so ignorant online. Question- what countries have you actually travelled and spent time in to know about their way of life , you seem to have a very narrow distorted view of the world .
I see Villar turned down the Blue Jays. Guess he hadn’t read about all the advantages of schools and govt health care.
Nothing to do with the fact he may be waiting for a 2 yr deal or more $$. Or more playing time then the Jays are offering.
You need to travel and explore the world – might help with you becoming a more rounded human being.
3 x 12 is a minor overpay. They had the dollars available to get a guy they targeted. Worst case scenario he got an extra year but the jays still picked their player and are in fact driving the market the last couple years.
This is what I said. I actually said it wasn’t a big deal because they have to offer more years and dollars. and the locals went off because they think it’s a baseball destination.
That dude in that ballpark. LLOOLLZZ
Jays rotation is stacked Berrios/Gausman/Manoah/Ryu/Kikuchi easily one of the best rotations.
Probably go Gausman,Ryu,Berrios,Kikuchi,Manoah to keep the R/L split up
Might even swap Berrios with Gausman
How it should probably go is Berrios Manoah Gausman Ryu Kikuchi but that doesn’t flow as well against lineups and trying to keep them off balance
I think it should go Berrios Guasman Ryu Manoah Kikchui
Unless Gausman regresses. A two-pitch pitcher who started to struggle in last year’s second half.
With the jays offense they don’t need sub 3 ERA guys.
If they can put together 4-5 guys who can give them 180+ innings at around 4 ERA, they will be a good team
Exactly right..
Yup, that’s a true statement right there!
Money is a bit high but the term is too much for me. I would have given him maybe $12M on a 1-year “prove it” deal. The guy hasn’t exactly been electric so far.
You can’t “give” a FA, especially a pitcher in this market, what you want to pay. If you offered 1/12 to Kikuchi, you’re not going to sign him. The Jays are a better team with him than some replacement.
Meh. Tyler Anderson replaced Kikuchi in the M’s rotation last year, because Kikuchi is terrible. Anderson is still available and will probably get a one year deal under $10M.
This move does not help the Jays rotation like you think it does.
Prove what exactly? He declined a $13M ’22 option and parlayed it into a lot more. Pretty savvy of him.
Good luck with that! Totally hated watching that guy in Seattle.
Blue Jays trying to be the Rangers so bad.
Rangers wish they had the Jays rotation.
And offense
***jokes***
Yes, your comment was a joke… wasn’t it?
Why would the Jays want to emulate a perennial bottom dweller?
Kershaw 14 / Kikuchi 13. hmmmm
Kershaw was 17 with incentives.
@Money
Not that it’s necessarily the most important thing, but Kikuchi is about 3 and a half years younger, with a lot less mileage on his arm.
Kershaw is 17M and is heavily laden with incentives. He essentially is on the verge of TJ surgery and hoping to get through the year. Big difference.
Kikuchi is gonna get shelled in Toronto.
He declined his one year, $13M option with the M’s to play for less. He worn down last year and had to skip his last couple starts.
36 > 12
How is turning down $13M and signing for $36M playing for less? Seems to me he just guaranteed himself $23 Million more in his pocket. Not too shabby for a guy who has never won more than 7 games in a MLB season. He has looked decent in stretches but I think it’s risky betting 3 years on it. Good for him though, I never begrudge someone from getting paid, I just shake my head at it and thank god it isn’t my team doing it and handcuffing themselves later with bad contracts.
It’s a front-loaded deal: 16/10/10. Jays can offload him easier if he doesn’t work out this year.
I guess that makes it more palatable, still glad it wasn’t my team signing him. Not the worst signing out there, just longer than I expected.
Or makes it easier to justify moving him to the pen in years 2-3 if it doesn’t work
Wait! I thought W’s didn’t count for anything. Now you complain he didn’t have enough of that thing that doesn’t count!
I never said wins don”t count, many do feel that way. I still think there is a ton to be said for pitchers that go deep into games and can stick around for the decisions. It is not an end all/be all stat, but it still shows value.
Wins might be one of the more useless stats in baseball. I remember Ricky Romero had 8 or 9 wins going into the All-Star break with an ERA over 7. Wins are a measure of run prevention combined with run support, and therefore 50% of the stat is out of the hands of the pitcher. Even more if you take into account the bullpen blown saves.
sorry 17 for Kershaw
….and 12 for Kukuchi.
Yusei Kikuchi, I say bold move by Toronto.
Sorry about that signing. As a Mariner fan, this guy made you crazy. Gives you 7 solid innings one start and then three starts of not being able to get out of the 4th.
Sounds like Blake Snell
This.
Sounds just like Robbie Ray’s career. Bust written all over him!
Would have rather seen them get Greinke. Kikuchi is good in spurts, but hitters adjust quickly.
I like him, he’s got very good stuff. Powerful fastball, great curve, seems to have a changeup at 88mph, or whatever he calls it. Fastball can hit 97mph.. Pete Walker has a really nice toy to play with, with Kikuchi.
He hit 99mph last year
Good. Didn’t want him on Mets. Didn’t think he’d be a good fit. Better options on trade market. Good luck in Toronto. 12 mill is a lot less than the option he declined. But 36mill ain’t
Love the Jays rotation
lol at people who said he had to go to the mariners!
Jays are the AL East favorites now
I wish him luck but glad he turned down the M’s option. Maybe it was just a coincidence but he completely fell off a cliff once they started checking pitchers for foreign substances.
Only foreign substance he’s going to need is Pete Walker.
If he can make him hit his potential similar to Ray and others. Fantastic signing, If he just eats up 150 innings from the #5 slot and doesn’t lose us more games than he wins us (im not talking his win loss record you animals) then it’s still worth it.
It only really sucks if he goes all Rick Ankeil on us and can’t throw a strike for the rest of the contract. Even then it’s only Rogers money, not exactly gonna get handcuffed by 2/24 remaining next year
Ray and what others?
Happ. Estrada. Biagini Matz
Happ was a journeyman before Walker
Estrada was able to pitch mid 80s and a 65 mph changeup thanks to Walker
Biagini enjoyed the only success of his career under Walker and was damn good out of the Pen
Matz put it together for the most part under Walker and got himself a nice contract from St Louis because of it.
Granted outside of Ray he didn’t get anyone else a CY but greatly improved all of those pitchers and likely earned them a few extra years and dollars
Happ was a journeyman before Toronto? New to baseball?
Ya, his 2009 and 2010 seasons were the only good seasons he had, including his first run with TO he was a 4.50 Era pitcher.
He didn’t really excel until his 2nd stint with TO when Walker got ahold of him and he was a 3era 20 win pitcher.
Agree, but the remaining is 2/20 next season, as the deal is front-loaded.
The Mariners probably wouldn’t have minded him picking up his option. They could definitely use another starter and would probably prefer to get one with only 1 year commitment unless they were young an/or good.
A fly ball pitcher in the AL East? Good luck with all that. Jays look desperate here. Could have done better in the trade market.
#5 starter.
On the flipside they front loaded it so 2/20 isn’t so bad to eat after this year if they need to and won’t prohibit further spending and they didn’t give up any talent to get him.
The front loading makes sense if you’re a GM, but has to be irritating if you’re a Rogers accountant whose money is being flushed just because it’s there this year. Makes me wonder why more teams don’t set multi-year payrolls to give their GMs better incentives.
In terms of looking desperate, I suspect quite a few teams are going to just go get what they need rather than holding out for deals with a only a few weeks until the season. They get one of the few starters available here and use this year’s budget room to front load the deal so it’s pretty palatable after next year if he doesn’t break through. Stripling is a FA next year so Kikuchi at $10m per can move into that swing man spot start role if they want to pivot and upgrade. Or they can move it easily enough.
Wonder who signs Greinke now.
I hope the Giants, though the price—even for a year or two—might be too high. He’s a smart innings-eater at this stage of his career and would fill some innings that Rodon or Wood may not be able to fill.
The Braves would be a good option IF he is willing to take a one-year deal.
Ky money is on the Braves then Brewers. Braves get a veteran #4 starter who can give them a 3.80 and 180 IP. A rotation of him, Morton, Fried, Anderson, Ynoa, and eventually Soroka down the line is a strong group. Not to mention any young arms like Muller, Davidson, or Wright.
Seems like a Matz replacement, and probably a downgrade.
It’s going to be an interesting who would you rather kind of year: ray who the jays didn’t offer a serious contract to or gausman and matz vs kikuchi.
To add to the ray vs gausman comparison: similar age, similar career trajectory, both are two pitch guys, rays a max effort pitcher, gausman is close max effort….. really odd how this one broke down.
and i thought Matz was overpaid!
Ok with him as a backend starter. 12 mil a year isn’t terrible. Just needs to keep era undet 5.
Pete Walker, work your magic.
After they started checking for foreign substances he started getting insanely wild and spiking pitches into the dirt halfway to home plate and throwing the ball over people’s heads. Hate to say it but I think he relied on “sticky stuff” and his best days are behind him. The best part of this deal is that I don’t ever have to watch him pitch for my team every 5 days anymore.
NO this rotation is not by far the best in baseball. It thankfully has quality depth but it doesn’t have an alpha front of the roation starter.
It has a #2 {Berrios}, two 3’s [Gausman and Ryu], a #4 in Manoah who will get better, and the rest are unknowns or #5’s. {Kikuchi, Stripling, Garcia).
Kay and Pearson are NOT starters. Give that one a rest. They are both relievers. Kay is a one inning max effort 7th inning guy and Pearson could be a closer if someone in the Jays gets their head on right and teaches him to relax and pitch rather than throw.
this didn’t age well the first time you posted it. must be a glutton for punishment to post it twice.
Good luck YK!
Kikuchi in the AL East is going to be brutal. Lots of souvenirs going to be flying out of the yard
I love the potential but the results are not there to justify that contract.
Lefty, eats innings, #4 or #5. Better than most I guess. Not a stand out sign but will add some value for Montoyo.
We loved Yusei but he’s a total headcase. No doubt about it. If he can find a way to just relax and pitch to his strengths consistently he can be dominant. He’s got some of the best arm talent in baseball, honestly. Last year early on when the fastball was hitting 97-98 to go with that nasty cutter, he was on a different level. He got nicked up right before the ASG and was never the same.
The way this contract is structured makes me wonder if there is an opt out after year 1.
Kikuchi has a good arm. I do wonder if he will benefit getting away from the Mariners and working with the Jays pitching coaches, who did wonders with Ray.
Hes getting paid what they think he’s worth which if guess is a 2ish WAR pitcher that declines from here based on todays salaries. Im not surprised by this. Hes got the stuff to be a sold #2 pitcher but his track record is more like a #5 or mop up guy. So if he’s in between that which he likely is thats a #4 type that gets worse from here, which 3/36 seems to be inline what those types make anymore but seems steep to me. Basically they tacked a year on in hopes hia potential shines through. He still has a lot of variability for a 3 year veteran in his 30s though. That’s my winded got take.
Steep is an exaggeration. Slight overpay is more what I meant.
What’s up man? SK grad here, saw the name and just wanted to shout out
No, I think “steep” is exactly right.
No opt-outs reported so far. Even if he replicates last years’ production, the Jays won’t have a lot of trouble trading him to a middling team who needs an innings-eater for 2/$20.
Good point. Structuring it with more up front makes him more marketable in trades if they go that route.
If he can bend his front leg that way imagine the magic he can generate with a ball in his hand!
They pay him 16 this up coming season and then an extremely fair 10 mill for each of the last two years. I think they got a bargain if anything. Pete Walker will get the best out of him, and with the stuff he has, this rotation will be one of the best in baseball imo. Every day you have a chance to win, fantastic job by the Jays brass to put this rotation together.
Also have Ross Stripling, Nate Pearson, some more minor league depth after those guys. Injuries will always come into play at some point of the year, Jays as of now are in really solid shape.
Try to grab a Colin Mchugh imo, and this team is ready to start the year. Trade deadline you get your 3B if one of the youngsters don’t take control of that spot.
This Jays team right now, going into the season is very talented man.. Glad to be a Jays fan.
Jays secured a ton of depth. I wish my team had this much.
I watched every one of his starts.
He completely lost confidence in himself after they cracked down on ball doctoring.
My (Japanese) girlfriend and I went to 6 of his start’s across the whole year, and I’ve debated in my head how much the crackdown affected him, how much his minor injury before the break affected him, the combination of the two, or the possibility that the injury occurred BECAUSE of the crackdown.
There’s a lot to take in there. He’s certainly worthy of another look like this, they absolutely are overpaying BUT I’m rooting for the guys arm talent to win out for him. I swear, he’s also a huge headcase and needs to relax out there. He’s in a full sweat and taking his sweet time after 5 pitches. Watching him stress himself out stresses me out
Good luck, Jays! As an M’s fan glad to see this frustrating guy leave. Flashes of being really good, surrounded by many more looking lost. Maybe the change of scenery will help. Came to Seattle projected as a Number Two starter, left as a fifth and MAYBE a 4th. The fact they skipped his slot while chasing the wild card last year tells the tale!
This time last year the Jays had Ryu at the top of the rotation and a lot of question marks in Ray and others. This year they are starting with a much better rotation 1-5. Berries, Gausman and Manoah are nr 2 pitchers and Ryu a nr 3 and Kikuchi a very good 5. I will take it.
The Blue Jays overpay for another beneficiary of a pitcher’s park out west to join the hostile AL East. This surely won’t blow up in their face
But it’s Canadian money.
Jays players are paid in US dollars.
It’s a good move. The AL East is far from the goliath it was a few years ago; every team has warts, nobody (IF especially) can catch the ball, and the O’s could lose 110 games. If nothing else, he provides depth, which is a BIG quality, especially this year. And the price really isn’t bad.
Zack and BIG SEXY about the only two left.
Uh, you’re talking about the division where 80% of the teams won 90+ games last season. It’s a better division now than it ever was before.
Kikuchi makes approximately 0 wins difference to projections for 2022 though.
Where’s the baseball-reference page links today? Someone miss a step?
Jays overpaid. Hopefully he has a career bump like Matz did in TOR.
Beautiful Pete Walker project at a reasonable price.
Yusei…I only hear what I want to…
Although I have faith in Walkers ability to get the best out of this guy it feels like Tanner Roark redux.
Might have to introduce him to the local cannabis culture to chill his edge.
He is easily rattled
Roark had a better track record. But Kikuchi is younger, especially in terms of MLB experience, and at least he’s improved each season.
As a Mariner fan I say best of luck ! He is so NOT worth the contract he got. Yusei seems like a decent guy. Thanks for Ray though!
Dodgers need Greinke!
Paying 56mm 3 yr for a guy with Career era just under 5.00 ! Have fun and enjoy him . Thanks for taking him away from the Mets!
Where do you get 56m?
A # 5 with #2-3 upside- if Walker can do his thing and help him reach and sustain his potential the 2-3rd years will be a steal. If not oh well it’s not like it’s 100m contract.
this guy is trash. usually 4/5 guys are over 30 reclamation projects commanding 1 year deals in the 10mil range. he’s on the wrong side of 30 and mlb hitters pulverize him. flush this money down the toilet.
Interesting. Perez signing gets trashed, and Kikuchi gets $36M/3. Over the past three years.
Player A 20-20 W/L 341 IPs 4.88 ERA 4.75 FIP 95 ERA+
Player B 15-24 W/L 365 IPs 4.97 ERA 4.93 FIP 86 ERA+
I was at Yusei Kikuchi’s first start at T-Mobile park, I think he threw five or six innings giving up a couple runs. He always showed flashes of greatness, but failed to be consistent over his time with the M’s. I often thought he threw the fastball too often, and hoped he’d have more success in Mariner blue. I wish him the best going forward, and hope he finds a new gear in Toronto.
For the same money, they could have had Matz away better pitch. Kurt must be willing to be vaccinated..
Greinke should retire.