Japanese left-hander Yusei Kikuchi got a new job in the Major Leagues – MLB and this following signing a contract with the Toronto Blue Jays for the 2022 season.
Yusei Kikuchi, who was one of the most interesting starters in free agency, signed a three-year, $36 million deal with the Blue Jays, journalist Jon Heyman reported. The Japanese at the time raised interest in New York, both in the Yankees and in the Mets.
In 2021, the Japanese is coming off his best season in MLB with the Seattle Mariners, so much so that he went to the All-Star Game and recorded his most wins in a single season.
After his signing, there are already three interesting pitchers on the market who get a contract for the 2022 MLB season following the stoppage, since yesterday, Friday, March 11, Carlos Rodón agreed with the San Francisco Giants and Clayton Kershaw renewed with the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Kikuchi elected free agency for 202 following turning down a $13 million player option with the Seattle Mariners in what seemed like a gamble at the time, but now it will be the Blue Jays of Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and company who will have the left-hander in its rotation.
This will be your new contract
- $16 million in 2022
- $10 million in 2023
- $10 million in 2024
Names for the Toronto rotation
- Kevin Gausman
- Hyun-Jin Ryu
- Josè Berrios
- Alek Manoah
- Ross Stripling
- Yusei Kikuchi
- Nate Pearson
Numbers
In the 2021 MLB season, he posted a 7-9 record, a 4.41 ERA in 29 starts, a 1.32 WHIP, and a total of 163 strikeouts.
The Japanese left-hander has three seasons of experience in the Majors and in his repertoire he has shown interesting things that surely led Toronto to finalize his signing.
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