Angels value Yusei Kikuchi’s ability to add strikeouts to their rotation

When Angels general manager Perry Minasian looked at Yusei Kikuchi’s 2024 season, he saw more than just a strong 10-start finish.

On the day the Angels officially announced their three-year, $63 million deal with the left-hander, Minasian said that even when Kikuchi had seemingly mediocre numbers with the Toronto Blue Jays, he still showed qualities the Angels wanted.

“When you look at his underlying numbers, the strikeouts, the walks, it was a quality year overall,” Minasian said on Wednesday. “A couple things we wanted to do in the rotation. (Throwing) strikes is really, really important. Guys who attack the strike zone.”

Kikuchi, 33, struck out 10.6 hitters and walked 2.3 per nine innings last season. Both of those numbers were consistent throughout the season, despite his 4.75 ERA with the Blue Jays and 2.70 ERA after a late July trade to the Houston Astros.

Last season, Angels starters ranked 27th in MLB with 7.6 strikeouts per nine innings and 28th in strikeout/walk ratio.

Three of the pitchers who performed the best – left-hander Tyler Anderson and right-handers José Soriano and Jack Kochanowicz – are all decidedly pitch-to-contact pitchers.

“Swing and miss is important,” Minasian said. “To add a guy that could take some pressure off the defense.”

Minasian said the Angels also valued Kikuchi’s “durability.” He made 32 starts and threw 175⅔ innings last season. He has started at least 29 games in four of his five full seasons in the majors.

Minasian said Kikuchi is the kind of pitcher who can “kind of slot everyone down that we currently have.”

Kikuchi and right-hander Kyle Hendricks now join a rotation with Soriano and Anderson.

“Those four are pretty safe bets to be in the rotation,” Minasian said. “We’ll see what happens with the fifth spot.”

That leaves left-hander Reid Detmers and right-handers Chase Silseth and Kochanowicz all competing for a job heading into spring training. Three other pitchers who have had just a taste of the big leagues – right-handers Caden Dana and Sam Bachman and left-hander Sam Aldegheri – would be in the next group.

Minasian also didn’t rule out adding even more to the group.

“We’ll continue to look, from a free agent standpoint, from a trade standpoint,” he said. “If there’s an upgrade, from a rotation standpoint, we’ll look to do it.”

The Angels’ improved rotation depth also might create another option for Minasian. The Angels could consider trading Anderson, which would save them $13 million that they could use for another part of the roster.

The Angels have been the most active team in the majors in making upgrades this winter, but Minasian has said consistently that there’s plenty of work still to be done. The Angels are coming off a franchise-record 99 losses.

“We’d love to lengthen out the lineup, add another bat,” Minasian said. “Try to add more depth on the bench. Try to add more depth in the bullpen.”

Minasian also said the early reports are good on shortstop Zach Neto, who underwent shoulder surgery a few weeks ago.

“He’s doing great,” Minasian said. “As good as we can hope. No timeframe. He’ll come to spring and we’ll see where he’s at. When he’s ready to play, he’ll play.”