After months of speculation, Yusei Kikuchi is set to be posted, adding another intriguing pitcher to free agency.
MLB free agency already has a plethora of options for teams looking to improve their rotation. Patrick Corbin and Dallas Keuchel may well be at the top of the list, but there are plenty of intriguing arms available. Pitchers like J.A. Happ, Nathan Eovaldi, and Charlie Morton are available as well, giving teams in search of pitching help plenty of options to upgrade their rotation.
And now, another intriguing option is set to enter the market. The Seibu Lions are officially posting Yusei Kikuchi, adding yet another intriguing arm into the mix.
Clubs have been notified that Yusei Kikuchi will be available via the posting system beginning at 8:00 a.m. Eastern Time on Tuesday morning
— Joel Sherman (@Joelsherman1) December 3, 2018
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Kikuchi had long been on the radar of major league teams, but his 2017 campaign truly thrust him into the spotlight stateside. That year, he posted an excellent 16-6 record with an incredible 1.97 ERA and a 0.911 WHiP, striking out 217 batters in 187.2 innings. Although he dealt with injury in 2018, Kikuchi still had a solid 14-4 record with a 3.08 ERA and a 1.033 WHiP.
Unlike other free agents, there is a specific timeline to sign Kikuchi. Bids for his services will be able to be submitted starting on December 5, and will have a 30 day window for negotiations. While other free agent pursuits may take until the end of January, Kikuchi will be wrapped up, one way or another, just after the start of the new year.
While there is a difference in opinion as to exactly what type of a pitcher Kikuchi will be in the majors, he is certainly an interesting pitcher. He is armed with a mid 90s fastball and a solid four pitch arsenal; his 98.2 MPH heater being the NPB record for a left handed pitcher. However, his injury woes leave his potential ceiling to be a matter of conjecture, with Kikuchi being considered anything from a potential Patrick Corbin type of pitcher to a potentially dominant setup man.
Teams may not quite know what to make of Yusei Kikuchi just yet, but he is set to come stateside. Let the bidding begin!