Left-handed pitcher Yusei Kikuchi has agreed to a three-year, $63 million contract with the Los Angeles Angels, sources confirmed to ESPN on Monday.
The 33-year-old Kikuchi had a strong second half last season after being traded from the Toronto Blue Jays to the Houston Astros, posting a 2.70 ERA over 10 starts. Overall, he finished the 2024 season with a 4.05 ERA, making 32 starts between the two teams. Kikuchi has demonstrated impressive durability, making 32 starts in 2023 and appearing in 32 games in 2022 and 29 in 2021, which likely played a key role in securing his new contract with the Angels.
Kikuchi, a six-year veteran, is joining his fourth team after debuting with the Seattle Mariners in 2019. His best season came in 2023 when he went 11-6 with a 3.86 ERA for the Blue Jays, helping them reach the postseason. His contributions to the Astros also aided their playoff run last year, a feat the Angels have not achieved since 2014.
Kikuchi’s signing is part of a busy offseason for the Angels, who have already added another starting pitcher, Kyle Hendricks, and bolstered their roster with catcher Travis d’Arnaud and outfielder Jorge Soler. The Angels have been the most active team in MLB so far this winter.