BALTIMORE — Yusei Kikuchi ran through his routine as usual Monday afternoon at Camden Yards, at peace with what’s expected to be his imminent trade from the Toronto Blue Jays as Tuesday’s deadline nears.
“He’s been good,” manager John Schneider said of how his left-hander has been handling the uncertainty. “It’s pretty evident that he likes it here and his wife likes it here and things like that. It’s the first time he’s in this spot, understanding that it’s part of the business. He’s had ample time to kind of digest it a little bit, which is unfortunate, but I would say he’s in a good place.”
Such has been the reality for Kikuchi, who after his outing Friday told reporters that, during a meeting with GM Ross Atkins last week, he was told that “there is a pretty high likelihood that I’ll get traded.”
That conversation was “kind of like a reset for me, too, just with all the uncertainty and stuff,” he added, something Schneider said he’s noticed, too.
“We’ve tried to be as transparent with him as possible,” said the manager. “Nothing’s done until it’s done, really. I watch it and hear it change by the hour, based on what teams are doing and what they need and all that kind of stuff. It is weird that it could just it could change in a minute…. He’s at that point now where he’s comfortable. That’s probably where the grey area comes in because there’s some unknown and he’s very routine-oriented.”
The Blue Jays did make a trade Monday afternoon, sending veteran Justin Turner to the Seattle Mariners for double-A outfielder RJ Schreck, according to an industry source. That pushed the club’s prospect haul up to eight players. Here’s a look at who they’ve acquired in their trades thus far:
The return for Justin Turner:
RJ Schreck – Double-A New Hampshire (expected)
OF | 6-1/205 pounds | B/T: L/R | Age: 24
2024 stats Everett: PA: 344 | .261/.401/.464 | HR: 12 | SB: 7 | BB/K: 57/47
2024 stats Arkansas: PA: 34 | .143/.294/.250 | HR: 0 | SB: 1 | BB/K: 4/7
The Breakdown: The ninth-round pick out of Vanderbilt in 2023 is a bat-first player with good on-base skills and some pop whose best defensive fit is still to be determined. Performed well at high-A, where he was a tick older than league average before a recent promotion to double-A, where he’s played only eight games.
The return for Yimi García:
Jonatan Clase – Triple-A Buffalo
OF | 5-10/150 pounds | B/T: S/R | Age: 22
Prospect Rankings: No. 13 in Mariners system by Baseball America
2024 stats Seattle: PA: 43 | .195/.233/.220 | HR: 0 | SB: 3 | BB/K: 2/14
2024 stats Tacoma: PA: 280 | .274/.373/.483 | HR: 10 | SB: 26 | BB/K: 40/72
The Breakdown: Clase has already touched the majors, debuting this season with Seattle and appearing in 19 games with them. He’s expected to join the Blue Jays at some point once their deadline fallout settles, with a chance to show how his blend of high-end speed, ability to get on base and surprising-for-his-size power plays. Still, as potent as the tools are — on full display last year when he hit 20 homers and stole 79 bases across two levels — his game is described by evaluators as raw. Part of the Blue Jays’ bet here is that he can smooth out some of his swing-and-miss and occasional chase with a more sound and consistent approach.
Jacob Sharp – High-A Vancouver
C | 5-7/180 pounds | B/T: R/R | Age: 22
2024 stats Modesto: PA: 191 | .255/.339/.435 | HR: 6 | SB: 3 | BB/K: 18/19
The Breakdown: The Blue Jays scouted him ahead of the 2023 draft, when he was selected by Seattle in the 17th round, believing he could stick behind the plate in pro ball. They’re even more convinced of that now despite his diminutive stature and he’s continued to make good contact while showing some offensive upside. The power is limited but the clubs likes his approach and that he rarely swings and misses.
The return for Danny Jansen:
Cutter Coffey – High-A Vancouver
INF | 6-1/190 pounds | B/T: R/R | Age: 20
2024 stats Greenville: PA: 271 | .238/.321/.463 | HR: 14 | SB: 8 | BB/K: 28/65
The Breakdown: Coffey is the key part of the Jansen return for the Blue Jays, who see solid offensive upside for the 2022 second-rounder. Despite being 2.2 years younger than league average, the 20-year-old has done damage with 14 homers and has shown he can get on base at high-A, although the strikeouts are high. He’s played mostly third and short but where he lands defensively will be further defined in Vancouver.
Eddinson Paulino – Double-A New Hampshire
INF | 5-10/155 pounds | B/T: L/R | Age: 22
Prospect Rankings: No. 18 in Red Sox system by Baseball America
2024 stats Portland: PA: 278 | .263/.349/.391 | HR: 3 | SB: 10 | BB/K: 29/60
The Breakdown: Currently on the IL with a quad injury, Paulino is a little further along than Coffey but with a lower ceiling. He’s shown more pop at lower levels but is still getting on base. He has a chance to play shortstop but is more likely to end up at second or third, although he’s got some outfield on his résumé, too.
Gilberto Batista – Low-A Dunedin
RHP | 6-0/165 pounds | Age: 19
2024 stats Florida Complex League: IP: 20.2 | 3.92 ERA | HR: 6 | HR: 0 | BB/K: 13/23
The Breakdown: A lower-level arm with some projection, who’s both raw and far down the line, although he’s shown some ability to get swing and miss already.
The return for Nate Pearson:
Josh Rivera – Double-A New Hampshire
SS | 6-2/215 pounds | B/T: R/R | Age: 23
2024 stats Tennessee: PA: 253 | .169/.277/.260 | HR: 4 | SB: 7 | BB/K: 33/67
The Breakdown: A third-round pick in 2023, Rivera appears to be, in the Blue Jays’ eyes, a legitimate shortstop and showed some offensive upside during his final season of college at Florida, hitting 19 homers with a 1.064 OPS. That hasn’t translated yet after an aggressive assignment to double-A after only 25 games of high-A. The Blue Jays are gambling some of that college polish at the plate emerges.
Yohendrick Pinango – Double-A New Hampshire
OF | 5-11/170 pounds | B/T: L/L | Age: 22
Prospect Rankings: No. 17 in Cubs system by Baseball America
2024 stats South Bend: PA: 122 | .340/.451/.610 | HR: 5 | SB: 3 | BB/K: 20/15
2024 stats Tennessee: PA: 225 | .223/.316/.345 | HR: 4 | SB: 7 | BB/K: 25/47
The Breakdown: Broke out early this season in his fourth trip through high-A before promotion to Tennessee, where he hasn’t been as productive. Still young enough for him to build upon an improving approach but rival evaluators see a lot of org player potential here.