A Major League Baseball team in Southern California is throwing some serious cash around this off-season. But before you jump to conclusions, it’s not the Los Angeles Dodgers or the always-daring San Diego Padres. The Los Angeles Angels in Anaheim are instead making the waves this off-season. Their latest splash is a reported three-year $63 million deal with Yusei Kikuchi. Surprised? You aren’t alone! Many people are surprised, given that the Angels were in a tight spot in just March of last year.

Their network broadcaster, Bally Sports, had filed for bankruptcy, leaving the team at a crossroads. They either had to stick to Bally at a reduced rate or pivot. The talks about payroll cuts loomed large. However, things took a turn when they found a brand new broadcasting deal with FanDuel Network. Their financial ship didn’t drown, and Angel’s owner optimistically, Arte Moreno, made a promise then, “We are raising our payroll…” and it seems like it wasn’t just bold talk because he has kept that promise!

Arte Moreno splashes the cash this off-season

Fans who waited for the team to get back into the spotlight will be glad to see their team push for the better. Slowly but steadily, the team has continued their savvy spending spree. Jon Heyman recently posted about the Kikuchi signing on X. Plus, he suggested, “Angels are back in the ballgame,” highlighting the team signed three other players too. Joining catcher Travis d’Arnaud for two years and $12 million, pitcher Kyle Hendricks for a year and $2.5 million, and infielder Kevin Newman for one year and $2.5 million.

However, a major chunk of that $100 million went toward 33-year-old Kikuchi. Given that the team had finished their season in September, it must have been a major wake-up call. They couldn’t wait for injured players to come around and pick them up. Angels manager Ron Washington had said after their loss, “It didn’t turn out the way we wanted to… But there’s going to be some progress moving forward into ’25. I have no doubt about it.”

Well, surely it’s difficult staying in the shadow of the Dodgers, more so after their star player, Shohei Ohtani bolted to the other side. Nevertheless, it seems like the Angels for sure don’t want another last-place finish, hence these bold off-season moves.

Angels land Yusei Kikuchi, but what about Trout and their offense?

The Los Angeles Angels sure have kicked things off with style this off-season. The 33-year-old is fresh off his strong gameplay from the Houston Astros. He impressed everyone with a 5-1 record and a 2.70 ERA in 10 starts for the Astros. Given that it was a late-season dominance, it might have caught the eyes of the Angels. After all, they were looking to stir up their rotation. However, not everything is clear and rosy for the team because MLB insider Russell Dorsey posed some serious questions.

Dorsey for sure did praise the move of the Angels on the MLB Network. “A guy who has been able to miss bats, especially over the last year. I think that’s going to be huge for the Angels’ rotation, which has now added Kikuchi,” said Russell Dorsey. But he also didn’t shy away from painting the bigger picture and how the Angels still have work to do on their offense. With Mike Trout recovering from an injury, the questions about him and his gameplay are looming at large. “What is Mike Trout going to give you? Do you move him to a corner? Do you DH him?” Dorsey wondered and posed that question!

Surely, while Kikuchi’s signing sure is a plus, it’s clear that Arte Moreno needs more pieces if they want to be a serious playoff contender next year. However, for now, the fans can be happy that the team is addressing the gaps in their roster.