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Los Angeles Angels Ink Former Blue Jays Pitcher Yusei Kikuchi to Three-Year Contract on Monday

The Los Angeles Angels started the week off with a bang, bringing in Yusei Kikuchi on a three-year pact.

Brady Farkas

Houston Astros starting pitcher Yusei Kikuchi (16) walks on the field before the game against the Seattle Mariners at Minute Maid Park on Sept 23.
Houston Astros starting pitcher Yusei Kikuchi (16) walks on the field before the game against the Seattle Mariners at Minute Maid Park on Sept 23. / Troy Taormina-Imagn Images
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The Los Angeles Angels continued their aggressive offseason on Monday morning by signing free agent pitcher Yusei Kikuchi to a three-year deal.

Jon Heyman of the New York Post had the information on social media:

Yusei Kikuchi to the Angels. $63M, 3 years.

Kikuchi is the latest piece for the Angels, who have already added Jorge Soler, Scott Kingery and Travis d'Arnaud this offseason.

Kikuchi reportedly had a strong market this offseason, which isn't surprising considering that he made 32 starts last season, showing a level of dependability. He also made 32 in 2023 with the Toronto Blue Jays. Furthermore, after a mid-season trade from Toronto to Houston in 2024, he went 5-1 with a 2.70 ERA. He struck out 206 total batters for the year in 175.2 innings, flashing elite level stuff. He has a mid-90s fastball and a wipeout slider.

Also, because there was no qualifying offer attached to him, opposing teams did not have to give up a high draft pick to Houston, which was appealing to teams who like to hold onto draft assets.

Kikuchi spent three years with the Mariners after coming over from Japan, going 15-24 in his tenure. One of the more frustrating pitchers in recent M's memory, he failed to be consistent. He made the All-Star Game with Seattle in 2021 but didn't even finish the year in the rotation that season.

Now, with the Angels, he'll work on beating the Mariners and the Astros, two of his former teams.

The Angels finished last in the American League West at 63-99.

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Brady Farkas
BRADY FARKAS

Brady Farkas is a baseball writer for Fastball on Sports Illustrated/FanNation and the host of 'The Payoff Pitch' podcast which can be found on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Videos on baseball also posted to YouTube. Brady has spent nearly a decade in sports talk radio and is a graduate of Oswego State University. You can follow him on Twitter @WDEVRadioBrady. 

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