Astros Make Key Trades for Kikuchi, Ferguson

The Houston Astros have made significant moves ahead of the MLB trade deadline, acquiring Yusei Kikuchi from the Toronto Blue Jays and Caleb Ferguson from the New York Yankees. Kikuchi, a 33-year-old left-handed pitcher, joins the Astros in exchange for top prospects Jake Bloss, Joey Loperfido, and Will Wagner, despite his underwhelming 4.75 ERA this season. The trade has been met with mixed reactions, with some viewing it as an overpay given Kikuchi's inconsistent performance, while others see potential in his pitch quality and strikeout ability. In addition, the Astros traded a minor leaguer and international pool money to the Yankees for reliever Caleb Ferguson, aiming to bolster their bullpen. This comes as the Astros deal with numerous injuries to their starting rotation, including Justin Verlander and Cristian Javier. These trades indicate the Astros' commitment to improving their roster for a postseason push.