Kikuchi is going to LAA for 3 years and 88.2 billion won at the age of 33..."Otani has left, but many Japanese fans are still cheering for him"
Nov 26, 2024
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MLB.com said on the 26th (Korea time) 'The Angels are dominating as the most aggressive club this offseason. He said he agreed to sign a contract with left-hander FA Yusei Kikuchi' and reported that the amount reached 63 million dollars for three years (about 88.2 billion won), the largest amount for the club since 2020 when Perry Minasian took office.
The Angels signed Kyle Hendrix for $2.5 million a year on the 8th and signed Kikuchi to further upgrade their rotation. It can be said that Kikuchi plays the role of an ace. The Angels, who lost the most since their foundation in 1961, with 63 wins and 99 losses last year, have been the biggest task this offseason to strengthen their starters, which have been pointed out as their biggest weakness for years.
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This year, Kikuchi pitched in 32 games for the Toronto Blue Jays and Houston Astros, throwing 175 ⅔ innings, posting a career high with a 9-10 record, a 4.05 ERA, 206 strikeouts, and a WHIP of 1.20. In particular, after being traded to Houston at the end of July, he drew attention by recording 5-1 losses, 2.70 ERA, 76 strikeouts, and 0.93 WHIP in 60 innings in 10 games. The FA hit the jackpot this time thanks to his pitching like an ace in 10 games in the second half.
MLB.com 's analysis is that this is due to increased slider to 38.9%, reduced four-seam fastballs to 35.6%, and increased efficiency of the two pitches.
Kikuchi, who is 33 this year, joined the Seattle Mariners in 2019 and pitched for three seasons before signing a three-year, $36 million FA contract in 2022 and moving to Toronto. After playing a full-time rotation until 2022, he was unable to escape the ERA of 4-5 points, and pitched 167 ⅔ innings over the regulation for the first time in 32 games in 2023, posting 11 wins, 6 losses and a 3.86 ERA.
And he stood tall as the top starting pitcher with an annual salary of more than $20 million in the second half of this season, showing a career high.
MLB.com said, `Kikuchi is the first Japanese pitcher since Shohei Ohtani, who left in December last year. 'A wide range of Japanese fans secured over the six years with Ohtani still support the Angels,' he commented.
jhno@sportschosun.com
