“Angels Are Back”: Arte Moreno Lives Up to His Promise With a Surprisingly Early $100M Signing Spree

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. It’s the Los Angeles Angels in Anaheim who are making the waves this off-season. Their latest splash is a reported three-year $63 million deal with Yusei Kikuchi. Surprised? You’re not alone! Many were caught off guard, especially given the Angels’ tight spot as recently as March of last year.

The Angels’ network broadcaster, Bally Sports, filed for bankruptcy, leaving the team at a major crossroads. Sticking with Bally at a reduced rate or finding a new broadcaster were their only options, and the discussions about payroll cuts loomed large. However, everything changed when they secured a new broadcasting deal with FanDuel Network. Suddenly, the Angels’ financial ship steadied, and team owner Arte Moreno boldly declared, “We are raising our payroll…”—and he certainly wasn’t bluffing.

Arte Moreno Splashes the Cash This Off-Season

Fans who have waited for the Angels to get back into the spotlight will be glad to see their team making moves for the better. Slowly but surely, the team has engaged in a savvy spending spree. Jon Heyman recently posted about the Kikuchi signing on X, noting, “Angels are back in the ballgame.” Besides Kikuchi, the Angels signed three other key players—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. The $100 million spree mostly went towards 33-year-old Kikuchi, marking the team’s determination to build a competitive squad.

Manager Ron Washington’s words after their loss in September still echo today: “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.” No one wants another last-place finish, especially after losing their superstar Shohei Ohtani. But now, with these fresh moves, the Angels are signaling they want to step out of the Dodgers’ shadow.

Angels Land Yusei Kikuchi, But What About Trout and Their Offense?

The Angels have kicked off the off-season with style, securing Kikuchi’s signature. The 33-year-old pitcher had a fantastic late-season performance for the Houston Astros, finishing with a 5-1 record and a 2.70 ERA over 10 starts. He’s a valuable addition to stir up the Angels’ rotation, but there’s still much to figure out.

MLB insider Russell Dorsey had some questions, despite praising the Angels for adding Kikuchi. “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,” said Dorsey. But he also pointed out some challenges still facing the team, especially concerning their offense. With Mike Trout recovering from an injury, his future role on the team is under a cloud of uncertainty. “What is Mike Trout going to give you? Do you move him to a corner? Do you DH him?” Dorsey asked pointedly.

The Kikuchi signing is undoubtedly a step in the right direction, but it’s clear that Arte Moreno and the Angels still have work to do if they want to be serious playoff contenders next year. For now, though, Angels fans can be thrilled—their team is finally addressing those long-standing gaps in the roster.