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Yusei Kikuchi is reportedly taking his talents to the West Coast.
The New York Post‘s Jon Heyman reported Monday that the left-hander will sign a three-year, $63-million deal with the Los Angeles Angels.
The Toronto Blue Jays dealt Kikuchi to the Houston Astros prior to last season’s trade deadline. He was 9-10 with a 4.05 ERA last season, the final year of a three-year, $36-million deal he signed with Toronto.
Kikuchi, 33, joins an Angels team that already has been busy this off-season after finishing last in the AL West last season.
The Angels have acquired outfielder/DH Jorge Soler from Atlanta, signed longtime Chicago Cubs starter Kyle Hendricks and veteran catcher Travis d’Arnaud.
Kikuchi became a fan favourite in Toronto after struggling for much of his first season with the Blue Jays.
He was an effective starter in a 2023 season in which the Blue Jays earned the final wild-card berth, going 11-6 with a career-best 3.86 ERA.
With Toronto out of playoff contention in 2024, the Blue Jays shipped him to the Astros for Jake Bloss, Joey Loperfido, and Will Wagner.
Kikuchi was excellent in Houston as the Astros won in his first nine starts. He finished with a 2.70 ERA in 10 starts for Houston.
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