Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Yusei Kikuchi (16) throws to a Detroit Tigers batter during the first inning of a baseball game in Toronto, July 20, 2024.
12:34 JST, July 30, 2024
HOUSTON (AP) — The Astros acquired left-handed pitcher Yusei Kikuchi from the Toronto Blue Jays on Monday for 23-year-old right-handed pitcher Jake Bloss, rookie outfielder Joey Loperfido and minor league first baseman Will Wagner.
The 33-year-old Kikuchi is 4-9 with a 4.75 ERA in 22 starts this season, striking out 130 and allowing 30 walks in 115 2/3 innings. He is 0-4 with a 7.75 ERA in eight starts since winning in Milwaukee on June 11.
Kikuchi is 35-46 with a 4.72 ERA in six seasons with Seattle and the Blue Jays. He is on a $10 million salary in the final season of a $36 million, three-year contract and can become a free agent after the World Series.
Kikuchi joins a rotation that includes Ronel Blanco, Hinter Brown, Framber Valdez and Spencer Arrighetti. Houston’s rotation is missing Justin Verlander (neck stiffness), Cristian Javier and José Urquidy (both having Tommy John surgery).
Bloss was waived from his starting position against Pittsburgh on Monday.
He was selected out of Georgetown with the 99th pick in the third round of the 2023 amateur draft and signed for a $497,500 bonus. Bloss made his major league debut on June 23 and is 0-1 with a 6.94 ERA in three starts. He went on the injured list with right shoulder inflammation the day after his major league debut and was activated on July 11.
Bloss played 13 minor league games this year at three different levels and posted a 1.64 ERA, which is 4-2.
Toronto entered the season with a luxury tax salary of $244 million, $7 million above the tax threshold. As the deadline approached, the Blue Jays also traded third baseman Justin Turner to Seattle, catcher Danny Jansen to Boston, right-hander Nate Pearson to the Chicago Cubs and right-hander Yimi García to Seattle.
The 25-year-old Loperfido made his Major League debut on April 30 and is hitting .236 with two home runs and 16 RBIs.
Wagner, who turned 26 on Monday, hit .307 with five home runs and 41 RBIs for Triple-A Sugar Land.
