Angels Make Strategic Move by Signing Yusei Kikuchi
In a significant addition to their pitching rotation, the Los Angeles Angels have secured the services of left-handed pitcher Yusei Kikuchi on a three-year contract valued at $63 million. Kikuchi, aged 33, brings a wealth of experience and a recent track record of adaptability and improvement, making him a promising addition to the Angels' roster.
Experience Across the League
Kikuchi joins the Angels after stints with both the Toronto Blue Jays and the Houston Astros. His journey through Major League Baseball has been marked by incremental improvement, most notably in his recent spell with the Astros. While his annual ERA stood at 4.05 last season, the latter part of the year saw Kikuchi refine his pitching strategy significantly. After being traded to Houston midseason, Kikuchi posted a 2.70 ERA over his final 10 starts, throwing 60 innings during that stretch.
This late-season surge was not just about numbers but about how those numbers were achieved. During his time with the Astros, Kikuchi improved his strikeout-to-walk ratio from 4.68 to an impressive 5.43. This change can largely be attributed to a strategic adjustment in his pitching repertoire.
Strategic Adjustments with the Astros
Kikuchi made noteworthy changes in his pitch usage, which played a crucial role in his enhanced performance. He reduced his fastball utilization from 49.6% to 41.8% and significantly decreased his curveball usage from 22.7% to just 9.5%. Coinciding with these adjustments was an increase in slider usage, which rose to 37.1% under the Astros' guidance.
Batters struggled against his slider, managing a meager .172/.245/.212 slash line, with the pitch generating a remarkable 29.2% swinging strike rate. This strategic pivot not only confused hitters but also validated a prescient piece of analysis from the time of his trade, which noted, "Surely Kikuchi would benefit from reducing his curveball usage in favor of throwing more sliders and changeups."
Precision and Control
Further enhancing his effectiveness, Kikuchi developed a penchant for precision, placing 67.4% of his pitches to the outside part of the plate. This focus on precision complicated matters for hitters, who managed only a .591 OPS against these outside deliveries.
In totality, Kikuchi's contribution last season was estimated at 1.4 Wins Above Replacement, underscoring his value to his teams and his capability of making a positive impact on game outcomes.
Bolstering the Angels' Roster
The signing of Kikuchi is part of a broader strategy by the Angels to strengthen their team during the offseason. Alongside Kikuchi, the Angels have also added Jorge Soler, Travis d'Arnaud, Kevin Newman, Scott Kingery, and Kyle Hendricks to their ranks. Each acquisition is strategic, aimed at reinforcing the squad with experienced and versatile players.
For Kikuchi, the move to the Angels represents not only a continuation of his career in a new environment but an opportunity to further refine his skills and contribute to a team with significant aspirations. As he integrates with the Angels, his recent performance trajectory suggests that he will be a key component of the team's strategy moving forward.
The Angels, with this bolstering of their roster, are clearly aiming for a resurgence and deeper playoff ambitions. Kikuchi’s arrival, along with other strategic additions, signals their intent to compete at the highest levels and capitalize on the strengths of their newly acquired talents.