London London. Left-hander Yusei Kikuchi and the Los Angeles Angels have agreed to a $63 million, three-year contract, a person familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press. The person spoke on condition of anonymity Monday because the deal, was subject to a successful physical test, first reported by the New York Post. The 33-year-old Kikuchi receives $21 million annually during the contract, which would have brought his Major League Baseball earnings to $142 million over nine seasons Is.
An All-Star with Seattle in 2021, Kikuchi was 9-10 with a 4.05 ERA in 32 starts for Toronto and Houston this year, which earned him a minor league contract with 23-year-old right-hander Jake Bloss, rookie outfielder Joey Loperfido and Acquired in exchange for first baseman Will Wagner. Kikuchi made 10 starts with the Astros Was 5-1 with a 2.70 ERA, he had 76 strikeouts and 14 walks in 60 innings. His four-seam fastball averaged 95.5 mph this year, the highest of his big league career.
In six seasons with Seattle (2019-21), Toronto (2022-24) and Houston, he is 41-47 and has an ERA of 4.57. Kikuchi signed with the Mariners prior to the 2019 season, when Seattle agreed to a contract that would have earned him $43 million over three years. The Mariners also paid a posting fee of $10,275,000 to the Seibu Lions of the Pacific League. He signed with Toronto in March 2022, agreeing to a $36 million, three-year contract.
The Angels have been by far the most offensive team in baseball this offseason. Kikuchi joins a projected rotation that includes left-handers Tyler Anderson and Reed Detmers and right-handers Jose Soriano and Kyle Hendricks, who left the Chicago Cubs as a free agent and signed a $2.5 million, one-year contract. But agreed. Right-hander Griffin Canning was traded to the Atlanta Braves on October 31 for outfielder and designated hitter Jorge Soler. Los Angeles also signed catcher Travis D'Arnaud to a $12 million, two-year contract. The Angels suffered their ninth consecutive losing season at a franchise-worst score of 63–99 and their first of the season since losing Shohei Ohtani in free agency to the Dodgers. They have not reached the playoffs since 2014.
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