Houston Astros sign former Mariners All-Star in deal with Blue Jays

HOUSTON (AP) — The Houston Astros acquired left-hander Yusei Kikuchi from the Toronto Blue Jays on Monday for 23-year-old right-hander Jake Bloss, rookie outfielder Joey Loperfido and minor league first baseman Will Wagner.

Ranking

Kikuchi, 33, is 4-9 with a 4.75 ERA in 22 starts this season, with 130 strikeouts and 30 walks in 115 2/3 innings. He is 0-4 with a 7.75 ERA in eight starts since winning at Milwaukee on June 11.

Kikuchi is 35-46 with a 4.72 ERA in six seasons with Seattle and the Blue Jays. He will be paid $10 million in the final season of a three-year, $36 million contract and can become a free agent after the World Series.

Kikuchi joins a rotation that includes Ronel Blanco, Hinter Brown, Framber Valdez and Spencer Arrighetti. Houston’s rotation is without Justin Verlander (neck stiffness), Cristian Javier and Jose Urquidy (both coming off Tommy John surgery).

Bloss was removed from his scheduled starting role in the Houston Astros’ game against Pittsburgh on Monday.

He was selected by Georgetown with the 99th overall pick in the third round of the 2023 amateur draft and signed for a $497,500 bonus. Bloss made his major league debut on June 23 and is 0-1 with a 6.94 ERA in three starts. He was placed on injured reserve with right shoulder inflammation a day after his major league debut and was activated on July 11.

Bloss made 13 starts in three minor leagues this year and went 4-2 with a 1.64 ERA.

Toronto entered the season with $244 million in luxury tax payroll, $7 million above the tax threshold. As the deadline approached, the Blue Jays also traded third baseman Justin Turner to Seattle, catcher Danny Jansen to Boston, right-hander Nate Pearson to the Chicago Cubs and right-hander Yimi García to Seattle.

Loperfido, 25, made his major league debut on April 30 and is hitting .236 with two homers and 16 RBIs.

Wagner, who turned 26 on Monday, was hitting .307 with five homers and 41 RBIs for Triple-A Sugar Land.

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