Popular former Blue Jays pitcher Yusei Kikuchi signs big three-year deal with Los Angeles Angels

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His time pitching with the Blue Jays helped make Yusei Kikuchi a desired free agent and ultimately led to the richest contract of his career.

The Japanese lefty, who was traded to the Houston Astros at last summer’s Major League Baseball trade deadline, has agreed to terms on a three-year, $63-million US deal with the Los Angeles Angels.

The signing was one of the first major moves in the free agency season and was earned after a strong first half with the Jays and an even better second half with the Astros.

Signed to a three-year $36 million deal with the Jays prior to the 2022 season, Kikuchi struggled in his first season, but became an integral part of the Toronto rotation in 2023, especially after Alek Manoah struggled.

He was effective again in 2024, but with an expiring contract and the team out of contention, the 33-year-old southpaw was dealt to the Astros at the deadline.

In return for Kikuchi, the Jays acquired infielder Will Wagner, outfielder Joey Loperfido and right-handed pitcher Jake Bloss, a solid return for a player that was hitting free agency and one of general manager Ross Atkins’ sharper deadline deals.

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During his time in Houston, Kikuchi took another jump forward, pitching to a 2.70 ERA with the playoff-bound Astros. It was good timing for Kikuchi to put up the best season of his career.

While with the Jays, Kikuchi was a fan and clubhouse favourite, a feeling that was mutual to the point where the pitcher spent most of last winter in the city, a rarity for players on the team.

“The city means a lot not just to me, but to my family,” Kikuchi said in an interview with the Toronto Sun last season. “We all enjoy Toronto and the Toronto fans. Putting on the Blue Jays uniform you get the feeling that you’re representing a full nation.”

Of course there was a high-profile flashpoint moment during Kikuchi’s team in Toronto when he was unwittingly drawn into a story related to the team’s pursuit of his compatriot, Shohei Ohtani.

By virtue of his nationality as much as anything, Kikuchi was erroneously attached to the Jays courtship of the superstar who eventually signed and won a World Series with the Los Angeles Dodgers.