Another talented free agent starting pitcher is available this week just days after the flurry of non-tendered players hit the market last Friday. The Saitama Seibu Lions of Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball League, will reportedly post left-handed starting pitcher Yusei Kikuch for bids by Major League Baseball teams on Tuesday morning.
On the mound, the 27-year-old isn’t of the same caliber as last year’s wunderkind free agent, and fellow Hanamaki Higashi H.S. graduate, Shohei Ohtani. However, Kikuchi does represent a strong mid-rotation arm with the upside for more. There was some debate as to whether the Lions would allow the posting, as they had control of Kikuchi until the 2020 posting period.