The Detroit Tigers are adding veteran experience to their young rotation with the signing of right-hander Kenta Maeda to a two-year, $24MM contract. Maeda’s physical will take place on Monday with the deal expected to be officially announced within the next 24 hours. Represented by the Boras Corporation, Maeda had been linked to the Twins, but they were only interested in signing him to a one-year contract. With this multi-year deal, Maeda is set to join the Tigers, becoming an opponent to his former team in the AL Central division. Eduardo Rodríguez’s potential departure from Detroit leaves a void that Maeda will fill as the veteran presence in the team’s still inexperienced rotation.
The 36-year-old Maeda, entering his 13th MLB season, will join a starting five that includes promising young arms like Tarik Skubal, Matt Manning, Reese Olson and Casey Mize. The Japanese right-hander boasts a track record of solid performance, having posted an overall 4.23 ERA along with a 27.3% strikeout rate and solid 6.5% walk rate in his comeback year in 2023. These numbers place him in a clear position to bolster the Tigers’ pitching staff and provide a foundation of consistency and durability.
Although Maeda faced some injury setbacks during the 2022 season and throughout his career, his strong strikeout and walk rates suggest that he has the potential to be a top-level starter when he is healthy. This makes him an exciting addition to the Tigers’ rotation. Maeda’s acquisition signals the Tigers’ interest in tapping into the Japanese pitching market. This could open the door to further expansion as they explore opportunities and weigh the possibility of making investment in future talent.
While Maeda excelled in the shortened 60-game 2020 season by finishing second in AL Cy Young Award voting, his recent struggles indicate concerns over his health and consistency. Nonetheless, the potential remains for him to still be a valuable asset to the Tigers.
Looking ahead, the Tigers have financially positioned themselves with room to explore opportunities, potentially setting the stage for further moves in the free agent market. This could include targeting Japanese pitchers to continue appealing to overseas talent, in addition to seeking other experienced arms such as Seth Lugo and Luis Severino.
