Angels Articles

November 25, 2024 - Written by Bryan Whitfield

Angels Enter Unknown Territory with Kikuchi Contract

The most aggressive team this offseason strikes again as the Angels have reportedly made their fifth addition this month as they’ve signed left-handed pitcher Yusei Kikuchi to a 3-year deal worth $63 million. The dollar amount is worth noting as this will be the largest contract the Angels have given to a free agent starting pitcher since C.J. Wilson back in December 2011, when the team gave him a $77.5 million dollar deal. This also marks the most money Angels GM Perry Minasian has handed out to a free agent throughout his four years with the team, the biggest being Tyler Anderson’s $39 million dollar deal in November of 2022. The Angels are yet to officially announce the deal as of this time but multiple reports across the media have confirmed this with Jon Heyman of the New York Post being the first to announce the deal this morning.

Kikuchi's Transformation

Kikuchi, 33, will look to build off of his strong second-half season with the Astros. Across 10 starts for the ‘Stros, Kikuchi became a completely different pitcher than he was in Toronto. In the first-half of the ‘24 season, Kikuchi held a 4.75ERA with 130 strikeouts in 115.2 innings of work. However once joining the Astros, he held a 2.70ERA with 76 strikeouts in 60 innings of work. The Astros worked with Kikuchi and upped his slider usage from 11% to 37% while also cutting his curve-ball usage from 23% to 10%. The question is, which version of Kikuchi will they get, will it be the Blue Jays or Astros version of Kikuchi. Of course the Angels are hoping for the latter.

His Role With The Angels

This signing brings in much needed depth for the Halos as they have desperately needed to add starting pitching this offseason. Kikuchi does just that and immediately slots in at the top of the rotation as he will likely be the Angels Opening Day starter in the southside of Chicago on March 27th. The Angels have a decent amount of options to fill the rotation in 2025 after the additions of Yusei Kikuchi and Kyle Hendricks…

Rotation Depth and Spring Competition

Fangraph’s 2025 Projected Starting Rotation

1. LHP Yusei Kikuchi

2. RHP José Soriano

3. LHP Tyler Anderson

4. RHP Kyle Hendricks

5. LHP Reid Detmers

The rotation currently holds 3 lefties and 2 righties. While it’s hard to envision the Angels adding another starter, this deal does open the door to a possible Tyler Anderson trade this offseason which may allow the team to add one more starting pitcher if they go that route. One would also have to imagine the fifth spot in the rotation is up for grabs as Reid Detmers vastly struggled in 2024, he will need to earn his keep this Spring. Others who will be fighting for that rotation spot include, Angels top prospect, Caden Dana, Samuel Aldegheri (acquired in the Carlos Estévez trade), Sam Bachman, Chase Silseth and Jack Kochanowicz, who performed very well in his brief time with the Halos last season.

What The Angels Are Hoping For

With a $21-million dollar price tag, the Angels are certainly hoping Kikuchi can build off his second-half finish of the 2024 season and be that frontline starter for the Halos. It remains to be seen what else the Angels do the rest of this offseason as they continue to look for someone to give Rendon some competition at the hot corner. Minasian has recently stated the team is looking for another power hitting bat but they are looking to improve every way they can this offseason. Some bullpen additions, a third-baseman and possibly a center-fielder are areas we could see the Angels adding to within the coming months leading up to Spring.

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