The Blue Jays sign Yusei Kikuchi

[Sammy225]

It's easy to trust this front office after what they've shown they can do, but they aren't bulletproof either.

 

This could easily end up looking like the Roark deal pretty quickly.

 

Hope for the best, though. Glad the deal is front-loaded.

 

He is weird pitcher. He has a lot of swing and miss in him BUT when they do put the ball in play they put in play hard

[InsideThePark]

Not a huge fan of this. Can't entirely put my finger on why I've never really liked Kukuchi. He'll be an above average 5th starter for sure, but 3 years at that price on a guy I'm not that confident in has me nervous, and after signing Gausman, and Berrios, Ryu still having 2 years and Manoah here for a while a chunk of the rotation is locked in for a while so I wasn't looking for someone for 3 years.

 

I trust this front office though so we'll see how it goes.

[John_Havok]

He is weird pitcher. He has a lot of swing and miss in him BUT when they do put the ball in play they put in play hard

 

Sounds like that Robbie Ray guy a bit no?

 

Maybe they've identified some similarities in the two and feel like the same type of adjustments they made with Ray will translate with Kikuchi.

[Grant77]

I really like this. We were looking for a durable left handed pitcher at a decent price point and we got it.

 

Kikuchi is projected at 2 WAR (6mil/WAR) and I think that Pete Walker has an awful lot of talent to work with. I have more confidence that Kikuchi will provide value than I do with Steven Matz on a similar contract.

 

Pearson and Stripling will get their starts. That's hardly even a discussion worth having, as there will be injuries and probably a modified 6 man rotation as early as April to accommodate Ryu and others affected by a shortened spring training. Kikuchi is taking away starts from guys like Hatch and Francis, not from Pearson and Stripling.

 

I think people are underestimating how much pitching depth will be needed this year and overestimating how much depth we have. If Kikuchi comes in and does his regular thing that that will be huge for us. We aren't paying for any upside. It was hugely important to grab another pitcher one way or another. It was probably the team's top priority.

[TwistedLogic]

This is the most basic bitch take ever but: If Kikuchi helps them sign Suzuki, I'm on board, lmao.

[gruber92]

Walker will get Kikuchi to eat up in the zone with the fastball like he did with Ray. The upside is there, let Walker hopefully work his magic.

[jerb]

[BCZ]

Ryu better have found his f***ing balls

[Terminator]

[Angrioter]

Hate this deal tbh. Really not a fan of Kikuchi and he's not good enough to block Pearson IMO.

 

Oh well, hope Pete Walker can work his magic here.

 

Pearson isn't on our roster. He belong to the Cleveland Guardians

[TheHurl]

Hate this deal tbh. Really not a fan of Kikuchi and he's not good enough to block Pearson IMO.

 

Oh well, hope Pete Walker can work his magic here.

 

Is he good enough to move Pearson in a deal is the question

[Deadpool]

Pearson isn't on our roster. He belong to the Cleveland Guardians

 

I'm going to pass on selling low on Pearson, thanks.

[RustyTrombone]

I'm going to pass on selling low on Pearson, thanks.

 

It will be called selling high when he tears his groin or shoulder or eye lid or something come April.

[wamco]

I had figured we had 33m to play with before this (60m offseason). That would leave 17m. I’m honking we have even more to use than I thought as we front loaded this. There has to be at least around 20m to swing a deal for a big bat (bryant/Schwarber type).

I think we’ll see a follow up move in the next 24-48 hours.

[Eat My Shatkins]

 

Well s***.

 

Imagine if they turn this f***er into a CY level of pitcher but then instead of watching him walk out the door he keeps on pitching for the Jays for two more seasons at $10 million per.

[Daniel Labude]

[TBJ12]

I think there is more money available than people are expecting. I wouldnt even be surprised if the Jays are serious players for Correa/Story/Bryant.

[TBJ12]

 

Please NO! Why?

[Daniel Labude]

Please NO! Why?

 

Biggio could be on the move

[Laika]

 

 

These are Eno Sarris' 2022 fantasy rankings. Left is stuff+ and right is location+

[Laika]

Kikuchi has velo but has basically been average and average in both respects. And projects as a league average SP.

 

The contract is fair. He might have a bit of upside left.

 

Steven Matz is an interesting name for him to land beside. Can't help but feel like Yusei is at least a upgrade on ol' Matz whose skill set was absolutely maxed out in Toronto

[Krylian]

Perfectly fine 5th starter with upside.

 

Rotation is set now. Let’s get an infielder and go.

 

Ryu will be our #5.

[L54]

Kikuchi has velo but has basically been average and average in both respects. And projects as a league average SP.

 

The contract is fair. He might have a bit of upside left.

 

Steven Matz is an interesting name for him to land beside. Can't help but feel like Yusei is at least a upgrade on ol' Matz whose skill set was absolutely maxed out in Toronto

 

Agreed

 

Kikuchi 3/36 > Matz 4/44

[Laika]

Ryu will be our #5.

 

Nah it's Kikuchi.

 

Berrios

Gausman

Manoah

Ryu

Kikuchi

Pearson / Stripling

 

Although they might line Manoah up 4th or 5th. But the above is the talent order.

[Jimcanuck]

So Ang says Pearson is Cleveland bound, and Ang has insider knowledge, and Biggio might be on the move. Hmmmm….

[Laika]

Ang is a mango sucking goat f***er

[Spanky99]

Ang is a mango sucking goat f***er

 

lol... poor Ang.

[Deadpool]

Ang is a mango sucking goat f***er

 

And a dirty Mexican to boot!

[Abomination]

Ang is a mango sucking goat f***er

 

I thought he traded the goats for asses?

[Spanky99]

I thought he traded the goats for asses?

 

Bah Dum Tshh...