Kenta Maeda Is Signing With the Detroit Tigers

Kenta Maeda Is Signing With the Detroit Tigers

The Detroit Tigers are warming up the stove. Starting pitcher Kenta Maeda has agreed to a two-year, $24 million deal with the Tigers.

Jon Heyman of the New York Post was the first to break the news. ESPN’s Jeff Passan first reported the details of the two-year deal.

Breaking: Kenta Maeda and Tigers have a 2-year deal

— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) November 27, 2023

Right-hander Kenta Maeda and the Detroit Tigers are in agreement on a two-year, $24 million contract, sources familiar with the deal tell ESPN. Detroit has been all over mid-tier pitching, and the 35-year-old Maeda stays in the American League Central. @JonHeyman had agreement.

— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) November 27, 2023

The Tigers and Maeda were linked last week, and the deal finally came into place this evening. The 36-year-old will stay in the AL Central after pitching for the Minnesota Twins.

This will be Maeda’s third team after starting out with the Los Angeles Dodgers. He was traded to the Twins during the during the 2019-20 offseason. In the shortened 2020 season, Maeda welcomed himself to Minnesota by posting a 2.70 ERA in 66 2/3 innings. He finished second in Cy Young voting that year as well.

The injury bug hit his elbow in 2021, and he ended up missing the entirety of the 2022 season. For the 2023 season, Maeda produced a 4.23 ERA with 117 strikeouts in 104 1/3 innings.

In total, Maeda produced a 4.02 ERA, 28.1% strikeout rate, and a 1.11 WHIP in 277 innings for the Twins.

It’s not a huge move, but the Tigers are starting the offseason right under new General Manager Jeff Greenberg.

Financially, the Tigers are in a great spot for the offseason. Besides Javier Baez, there’s no player on a  guaranteed contract beyond the 2024 season. Baez recently declined his opt-out so he can stay with the Tigers and finish off his contract.

Javier Baez Declines Opt Out; Will Play Out Tigers Contract

The Tigers 2024 payroll expects to be around $71 million. The Tigers made a bit of noise last season, finishing in second place in the AL Central with a 78-84 record. Alongside some young cornerstones, the Tigers are preparing for a playoff push in 2024.

Although they’ll need to fill more holes, Maeda is a good step in the right direction.

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