The Houston Astros have bolstered their starting rotation by acquiring left-hander Yusei Kikuchi from the Toronto Blue Jays in exchange for a minor league prospect.
The Houston Astros have added a veteran arm to their pitching staff, acquiring left-hander Yusei Kikuchi from the Toronto Blue Jays in exchange for minor league prospect Will Robertson. The move comes amidst a flurry of trade activity ahead of the August 2 trade deadline.
Kikuchi, 31, has pitched to a 4-6 record with a 5.19 ERA in 20 starts for the Blue Jays this season. He has struck out 91 batters while walking 43 in 103.1 innings pitched. Despite his struggles in Toronto, Kikuchi possesses a solid track record, having posted a 3.49 ERA over three seasons with the Seattle Mariners from 2019 to 2021.
Astros Bolster Rotation with Yusei Kikuchi Acquisition
The Astros are hoping that Kikuchi can provide some stability to their starting rotation, which has been hampered by injuries to Lance McCullers Jr. and Luis Garcia. Kikuchi will likely slot into the fifth spot in the rotation behind Justin Verlander, Framber Valdez, Cristian Javier, and José Urquidy.
Robertson, 22, is a right-handed pitcher who was ranked as the Astros' No. 26 prospect by MLB Pipeline. He has a combined 4.09 ERA in 19 starts with Double-A Corpus Christi and Triple-A Sugar Land this season.
The Blue Jays, meanwhile, are undergoing a bit of a roster overhaul under new general manager Peter Bendix. Toronto has already traded away several veteran players, including Kendrys Morales, Brad Hand, and Ross Stripling, in recent weeks. Kikuchi's departure further signals the team's commitment to rebuilding around a young core.
Toronto manager John Schneider said it was tough to say goodbye to Kikuchi and Justin Turner, who got traded to the Mariners in a separate deal.
"They're both great guys and great teammates," Schneider said. "We wish them all the best in their new homes."
The Astros, who currently lead the AL West by 10.5 games, are hoping that Kikuchi can help them maintain their advantage over the chasing Oakland Athletics and Texas Rangers. Kikuchi is expected to make his debut for Houston on Wednesday against the Baltimore Orioles.
