The Los Angeles Angels continue to make moves this offseason. His last? He is reported to sign veteran left-handed starter Yusei Kikuchi. According to Jon Heyman of the New York Post, The Angels and Kikuchi agreed to a three-year, $63 million contract.
Kikuchi, 33, is coming off the best half-season of his MLB career. Acquired by the Houston Astros just before the 2024 trade deadline, Kikuchi started 10 games for the Astros, averaging six innings per start and allowing just 18 earned runs, eight home runs and 14 walks. He struck out 76 batters in those 10 starts and finished his regular season with a 2.70 ERA in Houston.
Kikuchi has been releasing in the US since 2019, but he’s a true veteran. He made his professional debut in Japan in 2010 and pitched nine seasons for the Seibu Lions before being released and signing a four-year contract with the Seattle Mariners. He signed a three-year contract with the Toronto Blue Jays in 2022, where he pitched until he was traded to the Astros.
Kikuchi’s time in Houston is likely to extend his career by several years. Entering the 2024 season, Kikuchi’s MLB ERA was 4.71 with a WHIP of 1.383. And through the first four months of 2024, his 4.75 ERA was in line with his career numbers. But he began to have more success after he was traded to the Astros, who worked with Kikuchi to better locate his pitches. The difference was enormous. His strikeouts exploded, making him an incredibly effective weapon in the starting rotation.
The Angels have been surprisingly aggressive since the World Series ended in late October. They traded for designated hitter/outfielder Jorge Soler on Halloween, sending right-hander Griffin Canning to the Atlanta Braves to acquire him. Two weeks later, they signed former Braves catcher Travis d’Arnaud to a two-year, $12 million contract. Now they’ve landed Kikuchi, all before some teams have even made a major move.