The Los Angeles Angels continue to make moves this offseason. Their latest? Reportedly signing veteran lefty 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 the regular season with a 2.70 ERA in Houston.
Kikuchi has been playing in the US since 2019, but he is a true veteran. He made his professional debut in Japan in 2010 and played nine seasons with the Seibu Lions before being shipped out and signing a four-year deal with the Seattle Mariners. In 2022, he signed a three-year contract with the Toronto Blue Jays, where he played until he was traded to the Astros.
It’s possible that Kikuchi’s time in Houston will extend his career by several years. In the 2024 season, Kikuchi’s career MLB ERA was 4.71 with a 1.383 WHIP. And through the first four months of 2024, his 4.75 ERA was right in line with those career numbers. However, he began to have more success after being traded to the Astros, who worked with Kikuchi to better place his pitches. The difference was huge. His hitting has exploded, making him an incredibly effective weapon in the starting rotation.
The Angels have been shockingly aggressive since the end of the World Series in late October. On Halloween, they traded for designated hitter and hitter Jorge Soler and sent 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 landed Kikuchi, all before any of the teams made even a single follow-up move.