The Los Angeles Angels, contrary to expectations, are gearing up to spend this offseason. Instead of initiating a complete rebuild following the departure of franchise icon last winter, the team has decided to retain some tradeable assets and pursue free-agent signings.
Earlier this offseason, the Angels struck a deal with starting pitcher, agreeing to a three-year, $63.675 million contract to bring the left-hander to Los Angeles.
However, Jon Heyman of the New York Post recently highlighted that Kikuchi’s contract is far from a straightforward agreement.
According to Heyman, Kikuchi is set to earn $21 million annually in 2025, 2026, and 2027, but the finer details reveal additional perks built into the deal. The extra $675,000 accounts for specific provisions: Kikuchi’s trainer will receive an annual salary of $100,000, his interpreter will earn $75,000 per year, and he will be provided with five round-trip business class tickets between Japan and the U.S. each year (capped at $10,000 per ticket).
This unique inclusion of personal staff salaries and travel benefits is a notable departure from traditional contract structures. While bonuses for accomplishments like MVP awards have been common for years, incorporating salaries for a player’s support staff is relatively unprecedented. This approach could potentially pave the way for future contracts to include similar provisions, ensuring players’ personal teams are compensated alongside them.
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