DETROIT — Kenta Maeda, who signed a two-year, $24 million contract with the Tigers ahead of the 2024 season, started the year in the rotation but was moved to the bullpen in July due to inconsistent performances.
He showed improvement in a relief role, recording a 3.86 ERA over 12 appearances. In 42 innings, he struck out 41 batters and issued only seven walks.
Determined to bounce back, Maeda revamped his offseason training by starting earlier and focusing on increased velocity. He arrived at spring training in midseason form, having already completed eight bullpen sessions. His spring performance was solid — 19 strikeouts to just one walk over 12 2/3 Grapefruit League innings — but not enough to outperform Casey Mize, who secured a rotation spot, and top prospect Jackson Jobe, who the Tigers were eager to promote.
Once the regular season began, Maeda struggled to find his rhythm in the bullpen. As his performance declined, the opportunities for him to pitch became more limited.
The Tigers remain responsible for most of the $10 million owed to Maeda this season, though that will be slightly offset if he spends time on the Cubs’ major league roster, earning the prorated portion of the league minimum salary ($780,000).
While the Cubs have not made an official announcement, Maeda is expected to begin his stint with Triple-A Iowa.
Maeda began his MLB career in 2016 after a successful run in Japan, spending four years with the Dodgers before being traded to the Twins in 2020. He finished second in Cy Young voting during the pandemic-shortened season but underwent Tommy John surgery in 2021 and missed all of 2022.
He returned in 2023 with encouraging signs, finishing 6-8 with a 4.23 ERA over 104 1/3 innings, striking out 117 batters (27.3%) and walking 28 (6.5%). That rebound earned him the Tigers’ first multiyear offer under team president Scott Harris, who took over in late 2022.
Now with the Cubs, Maeda hopes to extend his MLB career. If things don’t pan out in Chicago, a return to Japan could be next.
“He’s had success. He’s also struggled,” Cubs manager Craig Counsell said Friday. “He’s the type of player you need to keep communicating with, work on adjustments, and figure out where he’s at.”