Detroit Tigers pitcher Kenta Maeda (37) has been designated for assignment (DFA), increasing the possibility of his return to Japan.
Major League Baseball's official media outlet MLB.com reported on the 2nd (Korean time), “As the career of a pitching prospect begins, the career of a veteran pitcher is at a crossroads. The Tigers designated veteran right-handed pitcher Kenta Maeda for assignment. The possibility that the 37-year-old veteran's Major League career, which spanned 9 seasons across 3 teams, could end is high.”
Maeda is a veteran right-handed pitcher with a record of 97 wins and 67 losses, an earned run average of 2.39 in 218 games (1,509⅔ innings) in Nippon Professional Baseball, and a record of 68 wins and 56 losses, 10 holds, 6 saves, and an earned run average of 4.20 in 226 games (986⅔ innings) in Major League Baseball. Maeda entered the Major Leagues in 2016 after signing an 8-year contract worth up to $102 million (approximately 148.6 billion won) with the Los Angeles Dodgers, but the guaranteed amount of the contract was only $25 million (approximately 35 billion won), and during his time with the Dodgers, there was controversy over the team using him as a relief pitcher to avoid giving him incentives.
Eventually, Maeda, who had been accumulating complaints, requested a trade and was transferred to Minnesota in February 2020 through a three-way trade involving the Dodgers, Boston, and Minnesota. Maeda had to sit out an entire season due to a elbow injury, but he recorded 18 wins and 14 losses, with an earned run average of 4.02 over 53 games (277⅓ innings) in 3 seasons.
After becoming a free agent at the end of the 2023 season, Maeda signed a 2-year contract worth $24 million (approximately 33.6 billion won) with Detroit. However, he managed only 3 wins and 7 losses, with an earned run average of 6.09 over 29 games (112⅓ innings) last season, ultimately being dropped from the starting rotation and failing to make the postseason roster.
This year, Maeda was unable to bounce back either. Dropped from the starting rotation, he recorded an earned run average of 7.88 in 7 games (8 innings). Ultimately, Detroit decided to DFAMaeda, whose contract is set to end after this year.
Detroit manager A.J. Hinch explained the reason for DFAing Maeda, saying, “It was a difficult decision. Maeda was a huge help to the team when he was good. And when he struggled, we couldn’t get him back on track. His time here ended disappointingly. We want to give opportunities to younger players and pitchers.”
Hinch expressed regret, stating, “Even at spring training, we were excited to see Maeda moving and throwing. But when the season started, things went south. We tried to make some changes and adjustments. But his stuff did not come back, and the results were not there.”
With the separation from Maeda almost certain, Hinch noted, “Maeda is just going to be disappointed that he couldn’t bounce back and contribute to the team anymore. As he has always been, he’s truly respected. I think it must have been really tough for him. We have made many success stories with players who didn’t get better, but unfortunately, this time we couldn’t. It’s never enjoyable to have these conversations, even if we could bring in fresh and new players.”
Having already hinted at the possibility of returning to Japan last winter, Maeda's departure from the team further increases the possibility that he may return to Japan. Fans are highly interested in whether Maeda will find a new opportunity in Major League Baseball or choose to return to Japan.
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