Reports: Toronto Blue Jays deal SP Yusei Kikuchi to Houston Astros

The Toronto Blue Jays have traded veteran left-handed starter Yusei Kikuchi to the Houston Astros, according to multiple sources.

Pitcher Jake Bloss was expected to be part of the return package to Toronto.

Kikuchi, 33, threw a 4.75 earned run average with 130 strikeouts in 115.2 innings this season for Toronto.

Kikuchi was in the final year of a three-year, $36 million contract he signed with the Blue Jays prior to the 2022 season. He has a strong breaking pitch and an elite fastball that tops out at 98 mph, near the best for left-handed starting pitchers.

The six-season MLB veteran admitted earlier in June that the team’s struggles this year have been difficult to deal with in the locker room.

“It’s probably a difficult time for all of us,” Kikuchi said through an interpreter, according to MLB.com. “Not just the outfielders, but myself. I’m going into it with mixed emotions.”

“We came in with the mentality that we wanted to get to the World Series and win it,” Kikuchi said.

The native of Morioka, Japan, struggled in his first season with Toronto, being demoted to the bullpen midway through the season after making 20 starts.

In 2023, he rebounded in a great way, with personal bests in ERA (3.86), innings pitched (167.2) and strikeouts (181). He continued his strong performances this season.

In 156 career games played (144 starts) with the Seattle Mariners and Blue Jays, Kikuchi has a 4.72 ERA with 761 strikeouts in 749.2 innings pitched. He was an All-Star in 2021 with the Mariners.