That likely contributed to the Mariners declining a series of four one-year options that essentially would’ve locked up Kikuchi through 2025 at $16.5 million per year. Kikuchi then declined his own $13 million option for 2022, making him a free agent.
He is the third major addition to the Jays’ starting staff since midsummer. Toronto traded for Minnesota ace José Berríos at the trade deadline, then extended him with a seven-year, $131 million contract in November. Just before the lockout, they added San Francisco’s Kevin Gausman on a five-year, $110 million deal as a free agent.
The trio join lefty Hyun Jin Ryu and homegrown righty Alek Manoah, who went 9-2 with a 3.22 ERA in 20 starts as a rookie last season. Robbie Ray, who won the AL Cy Young last season with Toronto, signed a five-year deal with Seattle just as Toronto added Gausman. Steven Matz, who made 29 starts for the Jays, departed for St. Louis.
Mets trade for Oakland ace Chris Bassitt
Righthander Chris Bassitt, who made a remarkable recovery from a frightening line drive to the head last year, was traded by Oakland to the New York Mets for minor league righthanders J.T. Ginn and Adam Oller.
Bassitt gives the Mets a much-needed starter for the middle of the rotation, seemingly a good fit behind aces Jacob deGrom and Max Scherzer.
The 33-year-old Bassitt came back to make two starts in late September, just more than a month after he took a 100 mph liner to the face on Aug. 17 in Chicago. Bassitt underwent surgery for three fractures in his right cheekbone. Immediately after the injury, his right eye was swollen shut.
Bassitt wound up 12-4 with a 3.15 ERA in 27 starts, including his first career complete game. He had been an AL Cy Young candidate when he got hurt and his absence took a toll on the A’s beyond the field. He was 12-3 with a 3.06 ERA and leading the AL in victories when he was injured.
Oakland, which won the AL West in the virus-shortened 2020 season, finished 86-76 and nine games behind the division champion Astros to miss the playoffs following three straight appearances. Manager Bob Melvin departed after the season for the same job in San Diego; the Athletics will be led by Mark Kotsay, a former outfielder for the club.
Bassitt is 31-25 with a 3.47 ERA in parts of seven seasons with the A’s and White Sox.
Also Saturday, former Oakland infielder Josh Harrison agreed to a one-year contract with the White Sox, according to The Athletic. It will pay the 34-year-old $5.5 million, and includes a $1.5 million team option for 2023.
Reliever Joe Kelly lands two-year contract with White Sox
Former Red Sox reliever Joe Kelly is coming back to the American League. The 33-year-old fireballer is inking a two-year, $17 million deal with the Chicago White Sox, pending a physical. It also reportedly includes a team option for 2024.
A 10-year veteran and Boston bullpen stalwart from 2014-18, the righthander posted a 3.59 ERA in 115 regular-season appearances for the Dodgers since signing there as a free agent in December 2018. Kelly posted a career-best 0.977 WHIP in 44 innings last season, striking out 50 against 15 walks.
Los Angeles declined a $12 million option for 2022 on Kelly, who suffered a biceps injury during the National League Championship Series. Earlier this month, Kelly said his recovery was going well, and he expected to be ready for Opening Day.
José Iglesias moves on to Colorado from Red Sox
Shortstop José Iglesias, who impressed both on and off the field in a late-season reunion with Boston last year, has signed a one-year, $5 million deal with Colorado according to multiple reports, likely making him the replacement for free agent shortstop Trevor Story.
Iglesias, 32, returned to the Red Sox in September amid their COVID-19 outbreak after the Angels released him. Though he was ineligible for the playoff roster, he impressed as the team drove to a wild-card berth, posting a .356/.406/.508 line in 23 games despite being best known for his…
Read More: Report: Yusei Kikuchi joined stacked Toronto starting rotation on three-year