Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Yusei Kikuchi (33) is being considered for a trade.

Kikuchi is a veteran left-hander with a career record of 36-45-1 with one save and a 4.67 ERA in 154 career major league games (740 innings). Kikuchi broke into the majors in 2019 when he signed a seven-year, $190 million contract with Seattle, but he struggled to make an impact in Seattle. However, he signed a three-year, $36 million deal with Toronto in 2022 and has since established himself as one of their top starters. This season, he is 4-8 with a 4.42 ERA in 20 games (106 innings).

At the time of Kikuchi’s acquisition, Toronto was well positioned to challenge for a postseason berth on a consistent basis. In 2022 and 2023, they made the postseason for back-to-back years. This season, however, they are 44-52 with a .458 winning percentage and are in last place in the American League East. They finished the first half of the season 9.5 games out of the third wild card spot in the American League, Boston (53-42, .558). Realistically, playing fall baseball has become difficult.

This has led to speculation that Toronto will put Kikuchi on the trade market.

With a postseason berth in doubt, it would make sense for Toronto to move Kikuchi, whose contract is expiring, to acquire prospects. San Diego, St. Louis, the Mets, and Cleveland have all been mentioned as possible destinations for Kikuchi.

MLB Trade Rumors mentioned Kikuchi along with catcher Danny Jansen and right-handed reliever Trevor Richards on its list of trade deadline candidates. 사설 토토사이트 “Kikuchi is one of the best rental starters on the trade market,” the outlet wrote. ”He was dominant from March through June before faltering in June. In his first two starts in July, he allowed four earned runs while striking out 18 and walking just two. He can work in any rotation.”

It’s not uncommon for major league teams to trade players at the trade deadline. But Kikuchi said, “This is the first time I’ve ever played baseball in this situation. I like Canada and this team. I have memories of the past three years, so I want to play for a long time,” Kikuchi said of the trade rumors.

Kikuchi, who pitched 7⅓ innings of six-hit ball (two homers) with 13 strikeouts and two runs against San Francisco on Tuesday, said, “There’s nothing I can control (about the trade). I just prepare for the next pitch. As a baseball player, it’s nice (to have a team that wants you), but it’s hard,” he said.