Blue Jays sign free agent Yusei Kikuchi to round out starting rotation
The Toronto Blue Jays have added left-handed pitcher Yusei Kikuchi to a three-year, $36-million US contract, with the Jays making the signing official on Monday.
Lefty posted 4.41 ERA, career-high 163 strikeouts in 157 innings in 2021 with Mariners
![](https://i.cbc.ca/1.6382973.1647117976!/fileImage/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/16x9_1180/kikuchi-yusei-210923-1180.jpg?im=Resize%3D780)
The Toronto Blue Jays have added left-handed pitcher Yusei Kikuchi to a three-year, $36-million US contract, with the Jays making the signing official on Monday.
Kikuchi, 30, spent the past three seasons with the Seattle Mariners, posting a 15-24 record with a 4.97 earned-run average over 70 games, all starts. He walked 132 batters and struck out 326 over 365.2 innings.
Last season, Kikuchi was 7-9 with a 4.41 ERA in 157 innings, striking out a career-high 163.
He would join a projected rotation featuring fellow newcomer Kevin Gausman, Jose Berrios, Alek Manoah and Hyun Jin Ryu.
The Blue Jays signed free agent Kevin Gausman to a five-year, $110-million deal before the lockout that ended on Thursday.
With files from CBC Sports