The Angels are dipping into the free agent pitching market in a way they haven’t in years.
The Angels have reportedly agreed to a three-year, $63 million contract with left-hander Yusei Kikuchi.
It would be the largest Angels contract for a free agent starting pitcher since they signed C.J. Wilson to a $77.5 million deal in December 2011.
The Angels have not yet announced the deal, which was first reported by the New York Post, but a source has confirmed the agreement.
The question now is whether the Angels are getting the Kikuchi who had a 4.75 ERA in his first 22 starts with the Toronto Blue Jays last season, or the one who had a 2.70 ERA in his final 10 starts after a trade to the Houston Astros.
His $21 million annual salary would suggest the Angels expect he’ll be closer to the latter version.
Kikuchi, 33, has a career 4.57 ERA in six big league seasons, the first three with the Seattle Mariners and the next three with the Blue Jays, until the July trade.
Previously, Kikuchi had a 2.77 ERA in eight seasons in Nippon Professional Baseball.
Kikuchi attended the same high school in Japan as Shohei Ohtani, although he is four years older.
More to come on this story.
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