Kenta

Maeda

Maeda announced his intention to return to Japan earlier this month and was pursued by several teams before ultimately deciding on a multi-year deal with the Eagles. The 37-year-old veteran returns home after spending a decade in the majors split between the Dodgers, Twins and Tigers. A return to the big leagues seems highly unlikely at this advanced stage of his career.

Maeda will return to Japan after spending the last ten seasons in the majors. He was list in the Yankees’ organization, and he’s struggled over the past few years after being a solid mid-rotation — at times better — option in his career. The 37-year-old could potentially return to the majors with a good campaign or two in Japan, but it seems pretty unlikely at this stage.

The deal is now official. Maeda will head to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre as emergency starting pitching depth for the Yankees over the final two months. The 37-year-old veteran was cut loose earlier this year by the Tigers after struggling in seven relief appearances. He didn’t fare any better during a couple outings at the Triple-A level after latching on with the Cubs.

Talkin’ Yanks says it’s a done deal. Maeda recently opted out of his Cubs contract after going 3-4 with a 5.97 ERA and a 45/25 K/BB in 57 1/3 innings as a starter for Triple-A Iowa, and the Yankees want some extra pitching depth after parting ways with Marcus Stroman and Carlos Carrasco.

Just three of the eight balls in play against Maeda were hard hit, but seven wound up as hits anyway, and Maeda didn’t help the cause by walking three batters. Maeda has given up 18 runs in 6 2/3 innings over three appearances for Iowa, and he might be on his way to being released again.

Maeda is expected to build back up as a starter in the minors. He had a 7.88 ERA in eight innings out of the Tigers pen after failing to win a rotation spot this spring.

There’s a possibility a team claims Maeda off release waivers, but they would have to pick up the remaining portion of his $10 million salary for the season. The 37-year-old veteran passed through waivers unclaimed after posting an inflated 7.88 ERA over eight innings (seven appearances) this season out of Detroit’s bullpen. It’s entirely possible this is the end of the road for Maeda at this advanced stage of his career, but there’s probably another team out there willing to bring him for a closer look.

Maeda was abysmal in seven appearances for the Tigers this season, registering a 7.88 ERA, 1.88 WHIP and an 8/6 K/BB ratio over eight innings. He hasn’t thrown any quality innings at the big league level since the 2023 season and with his bloated salary, it’s unlikely that any other team will come calling on waivers.

It will be interesting to see if the Tigers give Maeda more responsibility as a reliever this year than they did last season, when he was effective but almost always a low-leverage guy after losing his rotation spot. He might work out nicely as a setup man if given the chance.

That’s one less arm standing in the way of top prospect Jackson Jobe cracking the Opening Day rotation, though he’ll still need to beat out Keider Montero for that final spot. Maeda has registered a 5.68 ERA, 1.11 WHIP and an impressive 19/1 K/BB ratio over 12 2/3 innings in Grapefruit League action this spring. It seems like his days of fantasy relevancy are likely over.