The Toronto Blue Jays decision to trade Yusei Kikuchi in 2024 has panned out to be a major breakthrough for the team this season.
In return for Kikuchi the Blue Jays acquired solid depth pieces with Jake Bloss, Joey Loperfido and Will Wagner.
While Wager and Loperfido had solid stints with the Blue Jays, they ultimately became trade chips to address deficiencies in the lineup. Wagner was dealt at the trade deadline last season and Loperfido in the offseason in January.
By trading both Loperfido and Wagner, the Blue Jays acquired two worthwhile additions that have provided clutch hitting, raw power and defensive versatility this season.
Analyzing how the return package for Yusei Kikuchi has been a major breakthrough for the Blue Jays
Acquiring Loperfido provided the Blue Jays with a solid bench player who sported a .333 batting average with four home runs and an .879 OPS during his tenure with the team. He proved to be a valuable trade asset, as the Blue Jays ended up trading him to the Houston Astros in exchange for Jesus Sanchez.
Sanchez was acquired to replace injured Anthony Santander, and he’s been a stellar addition providing reliable production and clutch at-bats.
When it comes to Wagner, he made a strong impression in his MLB debut with the Blue Jays, going 3-for-4 with an RBI on Aug. 12, 2024. But he later became useful as a solid trade chip that proved to be a significant win for the Blue Jays as they traded him to the San Diego Padres in exchange for Brandon Valenzuela.
Valenzuela has been a shockingly valuable asset to the Blue Jays, with his defensive upside but also his resurgent bat. He’s undeniably proven his worth in the big leagues as a rookie, performing as one of the Blue Jays’ most consistent hitters. He has even earned praise from teammate Ernie Clement, who called him “the most improved player” in MLB.
In his last seven games he’s been riding a hot bat with a .333 batting average, three home runs, seven RBI and an .857 slugging percentage. He had the game-winning hit for the Blue Jays against the Phillies on June 9.
Then there’s Bloss, the lone member of the trade who is still with the organization. While Bloss has yet to make his debut with the Blue Jays following rehab from Tommy John surgery, he is making significant strides in his recovery and could earn a call-up later this season. He currently ranks as the No. 7 prospect in the Blue Jays’ system.
Overall, the Blue Jays trading Kikuchi provided them with two worthwhile additions (Wagner and Loperfido) that were later utilized as trade bait to acquire Valenzuela and Sanchez, who have been solid contributors to the Blue Jays success in 2026 as well as a promising arm who could eventually make the trade look even better for Toronto.