Toronto Blue Jays left-hander targeted by Houston Astros at trade deadline

Toronto Blue Jays left-hander Yusei Kikuchi is being targeted as the Houston Astros approach the trade deadline, according to New York Post MLB insider Jon Heyman.

Heyman also said Tigers pitcher Jack Flaherty is a target for them. Heyman added that the Astros don’t have many prospects to offer at this point, so players with expiring contracts are more realistic targets for them. Kikuchi fits that profile as he is at the end of a three-year deal that he signed before the 2022 season.

Kikuchi, 33, is one of the best rental pitchers on the market this year, with an elite hitter. While he’s just 4-9 this year, he’s struck out 130 batters in 115.2 innings. He has a 4.75 ERA, so he’s not a sure thing, but for an Astros team missing several pitchers due to injuries, he’d be an upgrade to the rotation.

In his sixth year in the major leagues with the Seattle Mariners and Blue Jays, Kikuchi is 36-46 overall with a 4.72 ERA. He has been something of an enigma since arriving from Japan in 2019. He has shown great talent, making the All-Star Game with Seattle in 2021, but has also been inconsistent. What remains true is that he has the ability to miss bats, which is very valuable in today’s game.

Kikuchi is currently struggling, going 0-3 with a 7.34 ERA in his last seven games. He lasted just 4.2 innings Friday night in a walk-off win over the Texas Rangers.

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