In a significant move that highlights their offseason strategy, the Los Angeles Angels have secured left-handed pitcher Yusei Kikuchi with a three-year contract valued at $63 million. At 33 years old, Kikuchi joins the Angels roster with the intention of bolstering their pitching rotation, bringing his experience and evolving skills to the team.
A Career Evolution
Kikuchi's recent career trajectory is noteworthy, marked by his midseason trade to the Houston Astros last year. During his time with the Astros, Kikuchi exhibited impressive performance improvements, recovering from an average season with the Toronto Blue Jays. Prior to the trade, Kikuchi held a 4.05 ERA, a figure he significantly improved upon joining Houston where he maintained a stellar 2.70 ERA over the next 60 innings spanning his last 10 starts.
Key to this transformation was Kikuchi's adaptation to his pitching approach. He made strategic changes to his pitching repertoire, reducing his reliance on his fastball from 49.6% to 41.8% and dramatically cutting down his curveball usage from 22.7% to 9.5%. In their place, Kikuchi leaned heavily on his slider, using it in 37.1% of his pitches. This adjustment paid dividends, as batters struggled against his slider, posting a mere .172/.245/.212 slash line, and the pitch yielded a remarkable 29.2% swinging strike rate.
Strategic Insights
Experts and analysts had long suggested Kikuchi might benefit from such tactical shifts in his pitching strategy, favoring sliders and changeups over curveballs. A notable piece of analysis at the time of his trade underscored this potential, suggesting, "Surely Kikuchi would benefit from reducing his curveball usage in favor of throwing more sliders and changeups."
Kikuchi also demonstrated exceptional command of the game's strategic intricacies, placing 67.4% of his pitches to the outside part of the plate. This approach limited hitters to a .591 OPS against his outside pitches, contributing significantly to his late-season success.
A Valuable Asset
Beyond his situational pitching prowess, Kikuchi's overall contributions have been quantifiable. His last season’s performance achieved an estimated 1.4 Wins Above Replacement, solidifying his value as a significant asset for any contending team.
An Offseason of Promising Acquisitions
Kikuchi joins a burgeoning list of new signings for the Angels, who are keen to revamp their roster in pursuit of postseason aspirations. Alongside Kikuchi, the team also brought on Jorge Soler, Travis d'Arnaud, Kevin Newman, Scott Kingery, and Kyle Hendricks. The infusion of new energy and proven talent speaks to the organization’s commitment to both depth and versatility, striving to provide new manager challenges with the tools necessary for a successful campaign.
For the Los Angeles Angels, securing Yusei Kikuchi is not just a move to reinforce their pitching rotation, but a strategic effort to pivot back into contention. With his refined skill set and strategic adjustments on the mound, Kikuchi presents as a compelling figure in the Angels' narrative this season, poised to make impactful contributions and carve out a legacy within his new team.