The Blue Jays chose to trade Yusei Kikuchi to the Houston Astros at the trade deadline in exchange for a substantial package of prospects, a move that appeared to be one of the standout trades of the deadline.

In a surprising turn, former Blue Jays pitcher Yusei Kikuchi earned a fifth-place vote for the AL Cy Young award. A writer from Kansas City cast the unexpected vote, leaving many people stunned.

Yusei Kikuchi, a familiar name to Toronto Blue Jays fans, surprisingly finished ninth in the AL Cy Young voting after receiving a fifth-place vote from a Kansas City writer.

While Kikuchi had a strong second half with the Houston Astros, his performance in Toronto was underwhelming, which led the Blue Jays to trade him rather than re-sign him. This decision shocked many fans. Kikuchi remains a reliable, durable pitcher, consistently taking the mound every fifth day—a valuable asset in today’s game. However, his “just okay” performance in the first half of the season made it difficult to justify a Cy Young vote, especially given that he only hit his stride after joining Houston.

There have also been rumors suggesting the Blue Jays might look to re-sign Kikuchi, as the team is in desperate need of a solid starting pitcher, and he could be a perfect fit. A reunion would make sense for both sides, especially considering Kikuchi’s newfound success with the Astros. Despite not making a major impact on the Cy Young ballot, the Blue Jays would benefit from bringing back a pitcher they know well, who has proven he can elevate his game.