The Detroit Tigers signed pitcher Kenta Maeda to a two-year deal Sunday, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reported. Per Jeff Passan of ESPN, the deal is worth $24 million and is pending physical.
Maeda spent the previous four years with the Minnesota Twins, missing all of the 2022 campaign rehabbing from Tommy John surgery. In his time with the Twins, Maeda posted a 4.02 ERA and went 18-14 in 53 games. He struck out 310 batters in 277 innings. In the shortened 2020 season, Maeda came in second in Cy Young Award voting and posted a major league-best .750 WHIP.
Before his stint with the Twins, Maeda began his MLB career with the Dodgers, where he found immediate success after transitioning from the NPB League. In his four years in Los Angeles, Maeda went 47-35 with a 3.87 ERA. He pitched 589 innings and struck out 641 batters.
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While Maeda’s numbers have certainly taken a dip with time, he’s become a reliable middle-of-the-pack starter. The Tigers have grown notorious for signing these types of starters, striking gold with Eduardo Rodriguez in recent years. With a young team that’s had its fair share of ups and downs, it’s an intriguing signing for a Tigers team that is expected to improve next season.
With Maeda now off the table, it’s another affordable, quality arm gone for the Mets. While still in the running for Yoshinobu Yamamoto, the Mets will need to add multiple starting pitchers this offseason.
