The Los Angeles Angels and left-hander Yusei Kikuchi have reached an agreement on a three-year, $63 million contract, an individual with knowledge of the talks told The Associated Press.
Because the arrangement, which was first reported by the New York Post, was contingent upon a successful medical, the individual spoke on condition of anonymity on Monday.
Kikuchi, 33, receives $21 million a year for the duration of the contract, bringing his total Major League Baseball salary to $142 million over nine seasons.
Kikuchi, who was named an All-Star with Seattle in 2021, was 9-10 with a 4.05 ERA in 32 starts this season for Toronto and Houston, who acquired him on July 30 in exchange for minor league first baseman Will Wagner, rookie outfielder Joey Loperfido, and right-hander Jake Bloss, age 23.
In 10 starts with the Astros, Kikuchi went 5-1 with a 2.70 ERA, walking 14 and striking out 76 in 60 innings. This year, he hit his four-seam fastball at the highest average in his big league career—95.5 mph.
In his six seasons with Seattle (2019–21), Toronto (2022–24), and Houston, he is 41–47 with a 4.57 ERA.
Before the 2019 season, Kikuchi joined the Mariners after Seattle agreed to a three-year, $43 million contract. Additionally, the Mariners paid the Seibu Lions of the Pacific League a posting fee of $10,275,000.In March 2022, he agreed to a three-year, $36 million contract with Toronto.
So far this offseason, the Angels have been baseball’s most aggressive team. Kikuchi is part of a projected rotation that also includes right-handers Jos Soriano and Kyle Hendricks, who signed a $2.5 million, one-year contract with the Chicago Cubs as free agents, and left-handers Tyler Anderson and Reid Detmers.
On October 31, right-hander Griffin Canning was dealt to the Atlanta Braves for Jorge Soler, a designated hitter and outfielder. Additionally, Los Angeles signed catcher Travis Arnaud to a two-year, $12 million contract.
The Angels had their ninth consecutive losing season, their first since losing Shohei Ohtani to the Dodgers in free agency, with a franchise-worst 63-99 record. Since 2014, they have not made it to the playoffs.
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