Kikuchi joins a projected rotation that includes left-handers Tyler Anderson and Reid Detmers and right-handers José Soriano and Kyle Hendricks, who left the Chicago Cubs as a free agent and agreed to a $2.5 million, one-year contract.

The Los Angeles Angles have been perhaps the most aggressive team in free agency and have now upped the tempo, signing left-handed pitcher Yusei Kikuchi.

Angels starters ranked near the bottom of MLB in strikeouts last season, which is one of the reasons they feel that Kikuchi will be an important upgrade. GM Perry Minasian says they could still