Blue Jays' Kikuchi: 'Difficult time' with trade deadline looming
Toronto Blue Jays left-hander Yusei Kikuchi knows his time with the team could be coming to a close with the trade deadline less than a month away.
Kikuchi is an impending free agent and should be in demand for contending teams looking to bolster their starting rotation for the stretch run.
"It's probably a difficult time for all of us," Kikuchi said through an interpreter Wednesday, according to MLB.com's Keegan Matheson. "Not just the position players, but myself included. I'm going out there with mixed feelings. You just don't know what's going to happen. It's a difficult time right now."
Kikuchi is in the final season of a three-year, $36-million contract. The 33-year-old owns a 4-8 record with a 4.12 ERA, 1.31 WHIP, and 98 strikeouts across 94 innings this season.
The Blue Jays have been one of baseball's most disappointing teams this season, sitting in last place in the AL East with a 39-47 record.
"We came in with the mentality that we were aiming to get to the World Series and win the World Series," Kikuchi said. "Obviously, it's tough thinking about that. All we can do is prepare and be ready every game that we're out there."
After struggling in his first season with the Blue Jays in 2022, Kikuchi has rebounded over the past two campaigns. He's registered a 3.96 ERA and 9.6 K/9 in 50 starts since the start of the 2023 season.
The MLB trade deadline is on July 30.