In a significant move this offseason, the Los Angeles Angels have bolstered their pitching roster by signing left-handed pitcher Yusei Kikuchi to a lucrative three-year contract valued at $63 million. At 33, Kikuchi brings a veteran presence to the team following his stints with both the Toronto Blue Jays and the Houston Astros.
Kikuchi's Recent Performance
During the last MLB season, Kikuchi posted a 4.05 ERA, a respectable figure that reflects his reliability on the mound. However, what distinguishes Kikuchi is his evolution and improvement following a midseason trade to the Astros. In his final 10 starts with Houston, he demonstrated remarkable effectiveness, achieving a lowered ERA of 2.70 over 60 innings.
Kikuchi's strikeout-to-walk ratio also saw notable improvement during his time with the Astros, increasing from 4.68 to an impressive 5.43. His strategic adjustment in pitch selection played a crucial role in this enhancement; Kikuchi reduced his fastball usage from 49.6% to 41.8% and significantly decreased his curveball usage from 22.7% to just 9.5%. Instead, he leaned heavily on his slider, raising its usage to 37.1%.
The Power of the Slider
The decision to rely more on the slider reflects a keen strategic adjustment by Kikuchi. Opposing batters found his slider particularly challenging, as evidenced by their .172/.245/.212 slash line against it. Notably, Kikuchi's slider also boasted a 29.2% swinging strike rate, underscoring the difficulty hitters experienced when trying to make contact with it.
Another aspect of Kikuchi’s improved performance was his pitch placement. By targeting the outside part of the plate 67.4% of the time, he effectively limited hitters, who managed just a .591 OPS against these pitches. It's a testament to his tactical prowess and adaptability on the mound.
Strategic Insights and Team Dynamics
One analysis around the time of his trade highlighted the potential benefits of reducing his curveball usage even further in favor of sliders and changeups—a strategy that has seemingly paid dividends. The Angels are no doubt hoping that his refined approach will continue to yield results.
The Angels have been busy this offseason, with Kikuchi's signing just one piece of a broader strategy to strengthen their squad. The team also acquired Jorge Soler, Travis d'Arnaud, Kevin Newman, Scott Kingery, and Kyle Hendricks, signaling a clear intention to build a competitive roster.
Kikuchi's contributions last season were calculated at 1.4 Wins Above Replacement, according to Baseball Reference. This metric further underlines his value and potential impact on a team looking to make waves in the upcoming season.
While the addition of Kikuchi enhances the Angels’ rotation, it is each player's combined effort that will ultimately determine how far the team can go. As all eyes turn to spring training, fans and analysts alike will be watching to see how these new acquisitions blend with the existing talent on the roster.
By securing Kikuchi, the Angels hope to leverage his recent improvements to fortify a pitching lineup that aspires to propel them into contention. As the countdown to the new season begins, it will be intriguing to see how Kikuchi and the Angels orchestrate their journey in the quest for success.