TORONTO — Whether you believe its embedded in the psyche of an athlete hoping to cash in or simply call it good timing, there’s a long history of contract year cases around sports.

Yusei Kikuchi looks to be in the midst of authoring another success story.

After breaking out last year to a degree in the second year of the three-year, $36-million contract he signed with the Toronto Blue Jays during spring training 2022 by finally cutting the walks and limiting home runs, Kikuchi seems primed to hit another level in 2024.

Through nine starts, the Japanese lefty has been as consistent as we’ve ever seen him during his six years in the majors.

Sitting on a 2.60 ERA after a short but dominant outing Wednesday in Baltimore, Kikuchi’s command has found another level, he’s limited the long-ball with a stunning four homers allowed, and he’s still showing his swing-and-miss stuff, striking out nine more Orioles this week to sit on 55 punchouts across 52 frames this season.

Simply put, Kikuchi is shifting his previously volatile mid-rotation ceiling into maybe something more.

Consider this: Last year at this time, there was concern that Kikuchi........

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