After both he and the Mariners declined to activate their options last season, Kikuchi became a free agent.
After a great first half of the season, the 30-year-old was named the team’s lone All-Star, but his play slowed down in the second half.
From his previous contract, Kikuchi will receive a wage decrease.
Originally from Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball League, when he was 27 years old, he moved to the United States to play professional baseball.
In that offseason, he was one of the most sought-after Japanese talents in the world, and the Mariners were willing to pay him generously.
With a player option for an additional $13 million in 2022, Seattle paid Kikuchi a total of $43 million over three years.
Aside from that, there was a possibility that the club would exercise its option and replace it with a four-year, $66 million deal.
Both options were rejected, and Kikuchi became a free agent, raising his total earnings to a little over $34 million during his professional career. Included in that figure is a $6 million signing bonus from the Seattle Mariners.
How Much Does Yusei Kikuchi Make?
Kikuchi will earn an average of $12 million per year under the terms of his new contract with the Blue Jays. The contract calls for him to make $16 million in 2022 and an additional $10 million in each of the next two seasons.
