The Los Angeles Angels have been the most active team thus far in the offseason, already adding multiple players including Jorge Soler, Kyle Hendricks, Travis d’Arnaud and Kevin Newman.
Even with their additions already, they remained on the hunt for starting pitching and had Yusei Kikuchi as one of their targets.
The free agent left-hander was not one of the top available arms of a group that includes names such as Corbin Burnes, Blake Snell and Max Fried, but he is a quality pitcher that would upgrade any rotation.
The Angels felt so too, and they have reportedly landed their target. According to Jon Heyman of the New York Post, the Angels are in agreement with Kikuchi on a three-year deal with an average annual value of $21 million:
Yusei Kikuchi to the Angels. $63M, 3 years.
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) November 25, 2024
Kikuchi was an All-Star in 2021 and is coming off of an incredible second half of the season after being traded to the Houston Astros from the Toronto Blue Jays. In 60 innings over 10 starts for Houston, he posted a 2.70 ERA and 0.933 WHIP with 11.4 strikeouts per nine innings.
Over his career, the 33-year-old has pitched to a 4.57 ERA, 4.53 FIP and 3.98 xFIP across 809.2 innings while striking out 9.30 batters per nine and walking 3.13 per nine.
The 2024 season ended up being his best with a 22% K-BB%, 3.75 xERA and 3.20 xFIP while posting 3.5 WAR across 175.2 innings.
The Angels would love to get that production out of him in 2025, but even with some regression, he should be a big boost to the rotation.
Angels non-tendered Patrick Sandoval before signing Yusei Kikuchi
Just a few days ago, the Angels non-tendered Patrick Sandoval, making him a free agent.
Sandoval was one of four players the Angels did not tender a contract to for the 2025 season. The others were former top outfield prospect Jordyn Adams, third baseman Eric Wagaman and outfielder Bryce Teodosio.
Sandoval had been a staple of the Angels rotation from 2021-24, but ended up undergoing Tommy John surgery that will cost him most of, if not all of, the 2025 season.
The Angels now replace his spot in the rotation with Kikuchi, which provides them with not just a healthy option, but an upgrade as well.
