The Toronto Blue Jays traded left-hander Yusei Kikuchi to the Houston Astros for prospects Jake Bloss, Joey Loperfido, and Will Wagner, the clubs announced Monday.
Kikuchi, who can test free agency at the end of the 2024 campaign, owns a 4.75 ERA with 3.64 FIP and 10.1 K/9 over 115 2/3 innings (22 starts) this year. He posted a 7.75 ERA with 1.57 WHIP over his last eight starts leading up to the trade deadline.
The 33-year-old should help an Astros’ rotation that has been ravaged by injuries to Justin Verlander, Luis Garcia, Cristian Javier, José Urquidy, and Lance McCullers Jr.
