Yusei Kikuchi Trade Rumors: Braves could be a possible landing spot for ex-Mariners pitcher as team looks to bolster pitching, per insider

Yusei Kikuchi has been a player that has increasingly been mentioned when talking about the MLB trade deadline. There are thoughts that the Toronto Blue Jays could be sellers, and Kikuchi would have a solid market.

Kikuchi has started 17 games this season, compiling a 4-8 record with a 4.18 ERA. He has thrown the ball well, but he has not gotten the run support he has been looking for.

While he is not a top pitcher in the league, Kikuchi is a dependable arm that could upgrade a few team's rotations. Per The Sporting News, they could see the Atlanta Braves being an interested party.

While Atlanta has a great top of the rotation, Charlie Morton and Spencer Schwellenbach have struggled. Morton has not looked like himself and Schwellenbach still has room to grow as a rookie.

Kikuchi could be big for the club as he is a proven innings eater. He would help out the bullpen and would not cost the team much.

Outside of Yusei Kikuchi, who else could the Braves key in on?

Atlanta Braves - Brian Snitker (Image via USA Today)

While the Braves could target Yusei Kikuchi ahead of the trade deadline, there are a few other arms that may interest them. Multiple struggling teams are expected to part ways with their top arms in the next few weeks.

One team that is expected to be a seller is the Chicago White Sox. Their ace, Dylan Cease is likely out of the question but somebody like Erick Fedde may not be. Fedde holds a 5-3 record with a 3.23 ERA across 17 starts.

Another pitcher that could interest Atlanta could be Los Angeles Angels LHP Tyler Anderson. He holds a 7-7 record with a 2.63 ERA and could be a great addition to the rotation.

About the author

Jared "Bloomy" Bloom is a journalist covering Major League Baseball at Sportskeeda and a former college baseball pitcher from Illinois, who just graduated with a Master's degree in Sport Psychology.

A writer with over 3 years of experience, Jared is consistently more concerned with quality than quantity, thoroughly checking multiple sources of information, and prides himself in being knowledgeable not just about MLB, but the game of baseball in general. He loves breaking down plays and game-changing moments, as well as looking closer into players' statistics.

Jared is a die-hard Chicago White Sox fan, and one of his earliest memories is seeing his great-grandfather, a huge Sox fan, in his rocking chair watching a game. Jared started playing from the age of 5 with his grandfather coaching him early on.

Jared loved Tim Lincecum for his quirky delivery and looked up to him as a role model when playing. His current favorite is Phillies star Bryce Harper, an exciting player who doesn't let injuries hold him back. Jared's favorite sports moment is Mark Buehrle's opening day between-the-legs glove flip to first base in 2010.

When he is not watching or writing about baseball, Jared can be found racing BMX at his local Rockford BMX track or coaching his local youth travel baseball team.

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Edited by Jared "Bloomy" Bloom