In a recent article, Jeff Passan of ESPN has praised the Toronto Blue Jays for their successful trade for pitcher Yusei Kikuchi. The trade has been likened to the infamous “Houston heist” in which the Astros acquired several key players that helped them win the World Series in 2017.

Kikuchi, a left-handed pitcher from Japan, was acquired by the Blue Jays in a trade with the Seattle Mariners. The 30-year-old has shown promise in his time in the MLB, with a career ERA of 3.80 and 413 strikeouts in 447 innings pitched. Passan believes that Kikuchi has the potential to be a valuable asset to the Blue Jays’ pitching rotation.

The comparison to the “Houston heist” refers to the Astros’ trade for Justin Verlander in 2017, which was seen as a key factor in their World Series victory. Passan believes that the Blue Jays’ acquisition of Kikuchi could have a similar impact on their team, potentially propelling them to success in the postseason.

Passan also notes that the Blue Jays gave up several prospects in the trade, including top pitching prospect Alek Manoah. However, he believes that the trade was worth it for the Blue Jays, as Kikuchi has already proven himself at the major league level.

Overall, Passan’s analysis of the Blue Jays’ trade for Kikuchi is positive, and he believes that it could be a game-changer for the team. Only time will tell if Kikuchi can live up to the hype and help lead the Blue Jays to success in the coming seasons.