Tigers Sign Kenta Maeda to Two-Year Contract
The Detroit Tigers have added experienced pitcher Kenta Maeda to their rotation, signing him to a two-year, $24MM contract. The deal is expected to be officially announced within the next 24 hours.
Tigers Add Veteran Presence to Young Rotation
The Tigers have added some experience to their young rotation, agreeing to sign right-hander Kenta Maeda to a two-year, $24MM contract. Maeda will undergo his physical on Monday, so the deal should be officially announced within the next 24 hours.
With Eduardo Rodriguez possibly leaving in free agency, Maeda steps in as the veteran presence in a Tigers rotation that is still developing. Most of the Tigers' young arms were set back by injuries in the 2022 season, but Maeda's addition adds stability to the staff.
At the moment, Maeda looks to be the number two pitcher behind Tarik Skubal, with Matt Manning, Reese Olson, and Casey Mize rounding out the provisional starting five.
Maeda's Performance and Injury History
In the pandemic-shortened 2020 season, Maeda performed exceptionally well, finishing second in AL Cy Young Award voting with a 2.70 ERA. However, he struggled in the 2021 season with a 4.66 ERA and then missed the entire 2022 season due to Tommy John surgery.
In his comeback season in 2023, Maeda posted a 4.23 ERA with solid strikeout and walk rates. He did allow a lot of hard contact, which raised concerns about his ability to induce soft contact like he had in previous seasons.
These factors, along with Maeda's age and injury history, likely contributed to the Tigers signing him to a two-year contract. His earning power may have been limited due to concerns over his health.
Implications and Future Moves
The Tigers' signing of Maeda is a solid move for their president of baseball operations, Scott Harris. It shows the team's commitment to spending on veteran talent alongside their young core.
With Maeda's contract, the Tigers' projected payroll sits at $85.26MM, providing flexibility to potentially make other moves. The signing also positions the Tigers to establish themselves in the Japanese pitching market, with possible interest in other Japanese pitchers like Yoshinobu Yamamoto.
The Twins, Maeda's former team, did not issue him a qualifying offer, which means they won't receive any compensation for his departure. The Tigers now benefit from adding Maeda to their rotation without having to surrender any draft picks.
