Reasoning behind the Blue Jays not wanting Yusei Kikuchi back revealed
PUBLICATION
Ryan Hall
May 11, 2025Â Â (1:42 PM)
Photo credit: Bluebird Banter
During a recent interview with Hazel Mae and Ben Nicholson Smith of Sportsnet, former Blue Jays pitcher Yusei Kikuchi Had interest in returning to Toronto during the offseason.
It was reported that he loved Toronto and that he has missed his time with the city, after he was traded on July 29th 2024 to the Houston Astros in exchange for Jacob Bloss, Joey Loperfido and Will Wagner.
Blue Jays management went a different direction with Francis
Blue Jays management made their decision to go a different direction with their pitching after trading Kikuchi as Blue Jays pitcher Bowden Francis had a solid second-half in 2024 and cemented himself as a starter with the team.
The Blue Jays also looked for pitching help in the offseason and decided to spend their money on veteran two time World Series champion Max Scherzer with expectations to be the 4th or 5th starter for the Blue Jays.
That plan has not worked out well so far.
Scherzer’s pitched three innings this season, and Francis hasn’t been great (2-5, 5.66 ERA). Kikuchi signed a three-year, $68 million deal with the Angels in the offseason, and has tallied a 3.83 ERA though eight starts this year. – Baron Dionis
General manager Ross Atkins made a decision last week to sign two veteran pitchers to help stabilize the pitching staff with Jose Urena from the New York Mets becoming the 5th starter for the Blue Jays and Spencer Turnbull remains out of the lineup as he continues to recondition from injury.
Blue Jays look to build off of small winning streak on the road
After winning their final game against the Angels, the Blue Jays are currently in Seattle to face off against the Mariners are they hold a two game-winning streak an extend it to three.
Blue Jays veteran pitcher Kevin Gausman received good run support from their offense as the team won 6-3 in the opening game of the series and put Gausman at a record of 3-3 where he went 5.1 innings with three earned runs and three strikeouts on seven hits while holding an ERA of 3.97 and a WHIP of 0.97.
Their final game in Seattle will be Jose Urena’s second start with the Blue Jays.
His inaugural start on May 6th gave the team solid work as he went 4.1 innings and only allowed 2 runs. The team looks to closeout the series and head back to Toronto where they will take on the Tampa Bay Rays next week.
Previously on Blue Jays Insider
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Reasoning behind the Blue Jays not wanting Yusei Kikuchi back revealed
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