In MLB, players come and go, but some have a deep love for their clubhouses. But do they get the same profound respect and admiration from the club? Um, hard to say. For this former pitcher of the Toronto Blue Jays, there was no doubt. The front office let him go despite his impactful performances.

Yusei Kikuchi was a fan favorite during his time with the Blue Jays. His explosive pitching technique and tenacity on the mound won him recognition as well as appreciation. But as the 2025 offseason approached, he encountered an unanticipated turn. Though he had a great year, he was not given a contract extension. Why? It was management’s decision.

Of course, he wasn’t happy about it, but he preferred keeping his feelings away from the rolling camera. Until now. TV Sports Broadcaster Hazal Mae posted on X about a recent conversation she and Ben Nicholson-Smith had with Kikuchi. Opening about his disappointing farewell from the Blue Jays, Kikucki revealed that he “didn’t receive an offer from Blue Jays this off season.” You might expect his words to be laced with fury. But instead, the pitcher “understood since Bowden Francis had a great second half.” Looking back on his time, Kikuchi “loves Toronto and misses his time there.”

But why didn’t they re-sign him? Especially when his numbers were genuinely good.

The left-handed pitcher’s 2024 season defined him. He showed promise with the Blue Jays, posting 11 wins, a 3.86 ERA, and 181 strikeouts in 167.2 innings. His performance demonstrated his skill and dedication. But as the season ended, the team’s composition changed. Bowden Francis‘s surge, which included two near no-hitters in the second half of the season, changed the Blue Jays’ pitching rotation.

The Blue Jays prioritized Francis above Kikuchi due to shifting team needs. Kikuchi was left with no choice but to leave the team, but this move was smart and opened new doors for him. Soon, the Los Angeles Angels looked to the left-hander to improve their pitching. He was named the Angels’ Opening Day starter after signing a three-year, $63 million contract.

But did the Blue Jays make a smart move to let go of such an impactful player? Given their current struggles, the story does not favor the Blue Jays.

Blue Jays bullpen fatigue

Once a shining example of stability at the beginning of the 2025 season, the Blue Jays’ bullpen is showing signs of fatigue. The team holds a record of 16-19 and is in third place behind the Boston Red Sox in the AL East. The team’s offensive problems have led to heavy reliance on the relievers, resulting in a higher workload  that is starting to show its effects.

A major issue is the overuse of important relievers. Nearly half of the bullpen’s total innings have been hurled by closer Jeff Hoffman, along with Yimi Garía, Chad Green, and Brendon Little, who have combined for 61.2 innings. In particular, Little has been the most used left-hander, matching Washington’s Jose A. Ferrer and Los Angeles’ Alex Vesia for the most appearances among lefties. Putting this much workload on these arms seems to be a bad idea.

Adding to the challenges, injuries to key bullpen members have worsened the problem. Elbow pain has kept Erik Swanson from pitching this season; he is set to undergo testing on his right elbow to assess the severity of his issue. Nick Sandlin and Ryan Burr are also out, which depletes the bullpen’s depth even further and puts more strain on the other relievers. The team’s offensive troubles worsen the situation as they struggle to provide enough run support, especially in late innings, placing 25th in wRC+ since April 16.

The Blue Jays must look for internal options and increase their offensive production to relieve the strain on the bullpen. Rookie Mason Fluharty has shown promise by allowing just one run with 11 strikeouts over his last 12 innings, and he might be a great addition to the high-leverage relief group. Improving late-game offensive output would also help to reduce the number of high-stress situations for the bullpen, enabling more tactical use of relievers and maintaining their effectiveness all season long.

But the clubhouse needs to look for some long-term solutions if it wants to win.