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MLB Free Agency: Japanese lefty Kikuchi posted

By Benjamin Chase

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - NOVEMBER 17: Yusei Kikuchi pitcher for the Aces in action during the Australian Baseball League match between the Melbourne Aces and the Brisbane Bandits at Melbourne Showgrounds on November 17, 2011 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Hamish Blair/Getty Images)
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - NOVEMBER 17: Yusei Kikuchi pitcher for the Aces in action during the Australian Baseball League match between the Melbourne Aces and the Brisbane Bandits at Melbourne Showgrounds on November 17, 2011 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Hamish Blair/Getty Images) /
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One of the longest-rumored moves in the Asian baseball market of MLB Free Agency this offseason was made official in 2018-2019

With MLB free agency rumors just beginning to heat up, one of the biggest possible names from the Asian market was officially made available on Monday as Yusei Kikuchi‘s team announced that they will post Kikuchi.

While Kikuchi has not been formally posted yet, that system is going to likely involve many teams. Kikuchi is an impressive left-handed pitcher that works with velocity atypical to Japanese pitchers, especially lefties, sitting 92-94 and touching 95-96.

Our Dave Hill gave a scouting report on Kikuchi, and Kikuchi will likely be a very highly-pursued pitcher based on his abilities on the mound. Where he will fit, however, will be interesting to gauge.

Currently, the starting pitching market is keyed by Patrick Corbin and Dallas Keuchel at the top, with pitchers like Charlie Morton, JA Happ, and Hyun-Jin Ryu making up the next level. On pure talent, Kikuchi is likely firmly between those two tiers.

The difference will be, however, how he is paid. Even as one of the brightest Japanese players (outside of Ohtani) to come over to the U.S. in some time, Kikuchi will not likely draw a contract comparable to Morton, Happ, and Ryu. For example, Miles Mikolas came over last offseason and was signed by the St. Louis Cardinals with the healthy skepticism on his numbers produced in Japan.

Mikolas was coming off of three seasons where he didn’t have an ERA above 2.50 in any season and posted a sub-1 WHIP overall in his time in Japan. However, the Cardinals offered him a slight 2-year, $15.5 million deal, reportedly the only guaranteed multi-year offer Mikolas received.

That could make Kikuchi a significant bargain this offseason if he produces at the level he has shown in Japan. Kikuchi has been posting K/9 marks over 8 for the last four years, and 2018’s 3.08 ERA is his highest mark of that time.

Next. Top 30 FA for 2018-2019. dark

Once he is officially posted by Seibu, MLB Free Agency will get exciting with an additional player added in that should intrigue a number of teams.

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