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Right-handed starting pitcher Kenta Maeda agreed to a two-year contract with the Detroit Tigers on Sunday, according to the The New York Post Jon Heyman.
ESPN Jeff Passan reported that the deal was worth $24 million.
Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press added that the deal is pending a physical exam, which will take place on Monday. He also added more information about the deal.
Evan Petzold @EvanPetzold
Kenta Maeda and the #Tigers were building momentum toward a deal before Thanksgiving and reached an agreement. agreement earlier today.
Lots of information in this story, including Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Shōta Imanaga, Maeda’s presence in the clubhouse and whether the Twins were interested in re-signing him. https://t.co/AiFObjnBjP
Maeda, who turns 36 next April, went 6-8 with a 4.23 ERA (1.17 WHIP) and 117 strikeouts in 104.1 innings for the Minnesota Twins last season. He pitched in 21 games (20 starts).
The 2023 campaign marked an impressive return for Maeda, who underwent Tommy John surgery in September 2021 and missed the entire 2022 campaign.
Maeda returned in time for the 2023 season but was placed on injured reserve after four starts with one right triceps strain.
After two months out, Maeda was excellent in his return with a 6-4 record, 3.36 ERA and 103 strikeouts in 88.1 frames. Opposing hitters have managed just a .219 batting average (.680 OPS) against him during that span, according to Baseball-Reference.
Maeda played professionally in Japan for the Hiroshima Carp from 2008 to 2015 before heading to the bigs. He pitched for the Los Angeles Dodgers from 2016 to 2019 before being traded to the Twins in 2020.
By FanGraphs’ List resourceMaeda currently serves as the Tigers’ No. 2 starter behind Tarik Skubal and alongside Matt Manning, Reese Olson and Casey Mize.
