Kikuchi to Astros

[Stangstag]

Lol yeah the Astros subreddit is in absolute shambles over this trade. Usually means we did pretty well.

[Stangstag]

This is probably one of the reasons they were willing to pull the trigger on Loperfido. I think Tucker is coming back soon also?

 

Astros

 

• Trey Cabbage, Chas McCormick, Joey Loperfido, and Mauricio Dubón are sharing two outfield spots.

 

Plus Melton should be ready next year and seems to be the better prospect. Loperfido for Kikuchi straight up would’ve made more sense

[Ray]

Trying to think of what the Blue Jays equivalent would be here:

 

Jake Bloss - recently drafted pitcher with an limited but elite minor league track record and small taste of the majors. Would it be hyperbolic to say Ricky Tiedemenn? They're ranked pretty similarly in the latest BA update, albeit Bloss has actually pitched in the majors

Joey Loperfido - UTIL type player with power who has some K-rate concerns - maybe Addison Barger or Davis Schneider?

Will Wagner - high contact, high OBP, limited power with no clear defensive position - basically seems to me like a Horwitz clone

 

So the Astros gave us the equivalent of Ricky Tiedemann, Addison Barger, and Spencer Horwitz all for half a season of Yusei Kikichi.

[Carlos Danger]

Trying to think of what the Blue Jays equivalent would be here:

 

Jake Bloss - recently drafted pitcher with an limited but elite minor league track record and small taste of the majors. Would it be hyperbolic to say Ricky Tiedemenn? They're ranked pretty similarly in the latest BA update, albeit Bloss has actually pitched in the majors

Joey Loperfido - UTIL type player with power who has some K-rate concerns - maybe Addison Barger or Davis Schneider?

Will Wagner - high contact, high OBP, limited power with no clear defensive position - basically seems to me like a Horwitz clone

 

So the Astros gave us the equivalent of Ricky Tiedemann, Addison Barger, and Spencer Horwitz all for half a season of Yusei Kikichi.

 

That’s a strong desire to win this year on the Astros part. The Blue Jays gave a way a should be Hall of famer for 2 months of Cone, but it paid off.

[Jays24]

Still can't believe the Astros gave all that up for Kikuchi. Hoping to see more of these trades and then we go nuts in free agency.

[Rafters]

Still can't believe the Astros gave all that up for Kikuchi. Hoping to see more of these trades and then we go nuts in free agency.

 

What are the chances all 3 players get into games this year for the Jays??

[AMS528]

 

Yusei Kikuchi:

Grateful to Pete Walker and how he stuck by him through his struggles in his first year with the team..

 

His only regret was not winning in the postseason.

 

His family loved Toronto, his son does not want to "move away from Canada.. that makes it tough for me."

 

 

Just for 2.5 months or so. He should really come back in the offseason, sign as our #4/5 pitcher on a fair deal. I'd be pretty happy with that.

[John_Havok]

 

 

 

Just for 2.5 months or so. He should really come back in the offseason, sign as our #4/5 pitcher on a fair deal. I'd be pretty happy with that.

 

Yeah, grabbing Burnes and Kikuchi again in the offseason would make for a solid rotation

 

Burnes, Gausman, Berrios, Bassitt and Kikuchi. Then you can afford to let all the guys who are close to marinate in AAA and come up to fill in any injury issues. Bowden Francis would probably be the defacto long man who gets the first crack at it, but to have multiple guys who can actually come up and make 2-5 starts if needed is something the Jays have been missing though thankfully not really needing either given the relative health of the rotation.

[Brownie19]

Yeah, grabbing Burnes and Kikuchi again in the offseason would make for a solid rotation

 

Burnes, Gausman, Berrios, Bassitt and Kikuchi. Then you can afford to let all the guys who are close to marinate in AAA and come up to fill in any injury issues. Bowden Francis would probably be the defacto long man who gets the first crack at it, but to have multiple guys who can actually come up and make 2-5 starts if needed is something the Jays have been missing though thankfully not really needing either given the relative health of the rotation.

 

That would likely be the best rotation in baseball man. Seems unlikely but fun to consider.

[John_Havok]

That would likely be the best rotation in baseball man. Seems unlikely but fun to consider.

 

I really think the Jays will go balls out this winter. Being the bridesmaid on Ohtani might have been the kick in the nuts they need to actually outbid others for Soto.

 

If they get Soto, then attracting a top end starter becomes easier, same for the higher end pen guys

[Laika]

I really think the Jays will go balls out this winter. Being the bridesmaid on Ohtani might have been the kick in the nuts they need to actually outbid others for Soto.

 

If they get Soto, then attracting a top end starter becomes easier, same for the higher end pen guys

 

This is kind of a nightmare scenario though right

 

Shapiro and Atkins being left to handle this crucial trade deadline and then allowed to go balls out in free agency?

[Stangstag]

This is kind of a nightmare scenario though right

 

Shapiro and Atkins being left to handle this crucial trade deadline and then allowed to go balls out in free agency?

 

Eh. Not the worst. Even if they sign a couple big guys like Soto/Bregman/Burnes, and the 2025 continues to suck, they likely have enough pieces they can still offload in 2026 to help the farm a bit. Plus by 2026 Bassitt will be off the books, only 1 more year of Springer, etc.

 

2026 likely looks gross but I think they could be back to competitive by 2027/28 even if 2025 is a disaster

[BTS]

They'll strike out on Soto. Then panic because they need to win in 2025. I can see it now:

 

- farm emptied again for Luis Robert

- 4/80 for Christian Walker

- 4/80 for Jurickson Profar

- 6/150 for Blake Snell

 

The team wins 76 games. Atkins and Shapiro don't have their contracts renewed. New regime inherits a losing team with a half dozen underwater contracts and a bottom-5 farm.

[L54]

They'll strike out on Soto. Then panic because they need to win in 2025. I can see it now:

 

- farm emptied again for Luis Robert

- 4/80 for Christian Walker

- 4/80 for Jurickson Profar

- 6/150 for Blake Snell

 

The team wins 76 games. Atkins and Shapiro don't have their contracts renewed. New regime inherits a losing team with a half dozen underwater contracts and a bottom-5 farm.

 

Please no

[Omar]

What are the chances all 3 players get into games this year for the Jays??

 

Expect to see Loperfido.

[Carlos Danger]

Al Leiter on MLB TV says he is very familiar with Wagner since his son played with him/against him or something.

 

Says he is LEGIT. Great contact and base on ball skills.

[Omar]

[Omar]

Al Leiter on MLB TV says he is very familiar with Wagner since his son played with him/against him or something.

 

Says he is LEGIT. Great contact and base on ball skills.

 

Imagine if Wagner ends up being the best part of this deal.

 

[BTS]

Still no word on the assignments for these guys?

[Carlos Danger]

Imagine if Wagner ends up being the best part of this deal.

 

 

The Blue Jays sure love son's of major leaguers. Which is a good thing generally. Bright lights don't affect them as much.

[Eat My Shatkins]

Still no word on the assignments for these guys?

 

fangraphs has Loperfido on the Jays roster, Wagner and Bloss in AAA

[Orgfiller]

Still no word on the assignments for these guys?

 

They're probably trying to stretch the trade being official for as long as possible so they can figure out the roster crunch from other trades going down.

[Brownie19]

Is Wagner a Jeff McNeill clone?

[Orgfiller]

Is Wagner a Jeff McNeill clone?

 

Walks too much.

[Carlos Danger]

fangraphs has Loperfido on the Jays roster, Wagner and Bloss in AAA

 

We need an SP, Bloss was going to start last night for a contender. Why wouldn't we start him?

[hanton]

We need an SP, Bloss was going to start last night for a contender. Why wouldn't we start him?

 

He needs the special extra from our pitching coaches...

[max silver]

We need an SP, Bloss was going to start last night for a contender. Why wouldn't we start him?

 

The team is down a starter with the Kikuchi trade, and Yariel has been demoted to AAA so it seems like a good possibility that Bloss will receive a start or two out of the major league rotation.

[Laika]

Bloss should be in AAA learning/developing because we need him to throw harder and develop a better third pitch. Otherwise he's just Bowden Francis.

[glory]

Still no word on the assignments for these guys?

 

Looks like Loperfido is joining the big league club. With KK likely to be moved, I could see him getting a chance at everyday LF reps.

 

[Terminator]

Bloss should be in AAA learning/developing because we need him to throw harder and develop a better third pitch. Otherwise he's just Bowden Francis.

 

Yeah and I would have him there to start next year too. He needs to be 2025 SP depth IMO. If he's in the rotation to start the year that doesn't bode well for our chances to contend.