On Thursday, it was reported that the Dodgers inked Japanese right-hander Kenta Maeda to a contract, but contract details had yet to emerge. Christopher Meola, who broke the news of the Maeda signing, reports that the deal is for eight years and a total of $24 million, but includes an extra $10-12 million per year in incentives. The Dodgers also had to pay Maeda’s team, the Hiroshima Carp, $20 million for the right to negotiate.
Maeda represents the Dodgers’ second starting rotation addition this week in what has otherwise been a quiet offseason. The club inked Scott Kazmir to a three-year, $48 million contract on Wednesday. The two will slot behind ace Clayton Kershaw and ahead of lefties Brett Anderson, Alex Wood, and Hyun-Jin Ryu.
Maeda, who turns 28 in April, finished the 2015 season with a 2.09 ERA and a 175/41 K/BB ratio in 206 1/3 innings for the Carp in the Japan Central League.