The Phillies and the other 29 teams in the league will be able to negotiate with Japanese starting pitcher Yusei Kikuchi on Dec. 5.
The Seibu Lions of Nippon Professional Baseball in Japan announced that they will post 27-year-old starting pitcher Yusei Kikuchi Dec. 3. The Phillies and any other interested teams will be able to begin negotiations with Kikuchi on Dec. 5.
Jim Salisbury of NBC Sports Philadelphia reported earlier this month the Phils will pursue Kikuchi once he is posted. He would fit right in as the team is looking to add a left-handed starter to the rotation.
Kikuchi is several years younger than Patrick Corbin and Dallas Keuchel, the two top lefties available in free agency this season. This is expected to make Kikuchi attractive to rebuilding and contending teams alike.
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Kikuchi will be the first player subject to the new posting rules for NPB players looking to come to MLB. These new rules make a player’s release fee tied to their contract value on a sliding scale. For example, MLB Trade Rumors predicts Kikuchi to get a six-year, $42 million contract. In this event, whatever team signs him would have to pay a $7.975 million release fee to the Lions.
Kikuchi has been an effective pitcher throughout his time in NPB. His ERA has been below three in four of the last six seasons and has never been above 3.54 since his rookie year. In 26 starts in 2017, he had a 1.97 ERA, 0.911 WHIP, and 10.4 strikeouts per nine innings. This year, he had a 3.08 ERA, 1.033 WHIP, and 3.40 strikeout-to-walk ratio.
Once in the league, Kikuchi profiles to be a mid-rotation starter. He would slide right into Philadelphia’s rotation behind Aaron Nola and Jake Arrieta. This would add the left-handed dynamic the team has been lacking the last few years without costing them upwards of $30 million per year.
When Dec. 5 rolls around, the pursuit of Kikuchi will become one of the biggest storylines in baseball.