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Listing the 10 worst MLB contracts for the 2023 season

By Kevin Henry

Apr 29, 2022; St. Louis, Missouri, USA; Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Madison Bumgarner (40) pitches against the St. Louis Cardinals during the first inning at Busch Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 29, 2022; St. Louis, Missouri, USA; Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Madison Bumgarner (40) pitches against the St. Louis Cardinals during the first inning at Busch Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports /
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Sep 3, 2022; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Yusei Kikuchi (16) pitches against the Pittsburgh Pirates during the fourth inning at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 3, 2022; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Yusei Kikuchi (16) pitches against the Pittsburgh Pirates during the fourth inning at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports /

Yusei Kikuchi of the Toronto Blue Jays has one of the worst MLB contracts

Kikuchi is slated to make $10 million this season as part of a three-year, $36 contract he signed with the Blue Jays before the 2022 season. The left-hander was a disappointment in his first season with Toronto, being forced from the rotation after an August 15 start against Baltimore where he allowed six runs (three earned) in 3.1 innings. That was the end of a three-game stretch in August where he posted a 7.30 ERA and lasted just 12.1 innings in his three starts, walking seven and striking out 12 during that span.

Right now, Kikuchi is projected to be the fifth starter for the Blue Jays, and, like last season, there is certainly a chance that the 31-year-old could be booted from the rotation again in 2023 if he doesn’t perform.

Early in spring, Kikuchi is looking more like the pitcher Toronto hoped he would be, but is that a spring mirage or the sign of something good to come? With numbers like 14.8 percent of batted balls being barreled off him last season (compared to the MLB average of 9.7), we’re going to bet on more trouble to come for him and the Blue Jays in 2023.

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