November 28: The club has now officially announced the deal, which is frontloaded. Maeda will make $14MM in 2024 and $10MM in 2025. The club’s 40-man roster count is now at 38.
November 26: The Tigers have added some experience to their young rotation, agreeing to sign right-hander Kenta Maeda to a two-year, $24MM contract. Maeda will undergo his physical on Monday, so the deal should be officially announced within the next 24 hours. Maeda is represented by the Boras Corporation.
Reports emerged earlier this week linking Maeda and the Tigers, though the Twins (Maeda’s former team) maintained interest. However, SKOR North’s Darren Wolfson writes that the Twins only had interest in Maeda on a one-year contract, so moving to a multi-year looks to have sealed the deal for the Tigers. Minnesota will now have to deal with Maeda as an opponent on a division rival, as Maeda will join the third team of his Major League career as he enters his age-36 season.
With Eduardo Rodriguez possibly leaving Detroit in free agency, Maeda steps in as the veteran presence within a Tigers rotation that is still pretty unseasoned. Most of the Tigers’ young arms were also set back by injuries during the club’s nightmarish 2022 season, though Tarik Skubal and Matt Manning pitched well when healthy, and Reese Olson stepped up as a legitimate rotation candidate. At the moment, Maeda looks to be the No. 2 on the staff behind Skubal, with Manning, Olson, and Casey Mize (set to return after missing 2023 due to Tommy John surgery) looking like the provisional starting five.
This offseason marked the end of the incentive-heavy, eight-year, $25MM deal Maeda signed with the Dodgers back in January 2016, when Maeda first came to the majors from Nippon Professional Baseball. Maeda’s earning power at the time was somewhat limited due to some concerns over his elbow, though he didn’t have any major arm-related injury issues over four years in Los Angeles before the Dodgers dealt him to the Twins during the 2019-20 offseason. Maeda responded with an outstanding performance in the pandemic-shortened campaign, posting a 2.70 ERA in 66 2/3 innings and finishing second in AL Cy Young Award voting.
With a more modest 4.66 ERA in 106 1/3 frames in 2021, the injury bug then finally bit, as Maeda had to undergo the internal-brace version of Tommy John surgery. Using the brace theoretically could have reduced Maeda’s time on the injured list, yet he ended up missing the entire 2022 season. His comeback year in 2023 was also shortened by close to two months by a triceps strain, but the numbers were pretty solid overall when Maeda did take the mound.
Maeda posted a 4.23 ERA, 27.3% strikeout rate, and 6.5% walk rate over 104 1/3 innings for Minnesota. Both the walk and strikeout rates were well above average, and Maeda wasn’t a high-velocity pitcher even before surgery, so his 90.9mph average was just slightly below his career norm. Maeda did allow a lot of hard contact last year, which was something of a red flag considering that he very good and occasionally elite at inducing soft contact in the seasons prior to his brace procedure.
Between the hard-contact numbers, Maeda’s age, and injury history, the expectation was that Maeda’s market might be limited to a two-year (or two years with an option) contract this winter. MLBTR ranked Maeda 25th on our list of the offseason’s top 50 free agents, and predicted a two-year, $36MM pact for the right-hander. The actual dollar figure will fall below our projection, perhaps suggesting that teams had concerns over Maeda’s ability to stay healthy. Speculatively, it could also be that Maeda preferred to get a deal done sooner rather than later, perhaps as a nod to the strong interest shown by the Tigers this early in the winter.
There’s no doubt that the righty has a high ceiling of performance when he’s healthy, making the signing a pretty solid move for Tigers president of baseball operations Scott Harris. After spending most of his first year in the job in evaluation mode, Harris has started to make some modest but noteworthy expenditures for veteran talent, both in signing Maeda and in trading for Mark Canha earlier this month. Adding Maeda’s deal puts Detroit’s projected payroll (as per Roster Resource) at only $85.26MM, though Harris has spoken of exercising financial caution in the past, and it isn’t yet clear how much the Tigers are willing to spend this winter.
At the very least, the Tigers have the flexibility to perhaps explore a bigger move should an opportunity present itself, and Maeda’s signing perhaps opens such a door in a unique fashion. Evan Petzold of The Detroit Free Press wrote this week that the Tigers were considering Maeda both for the pitcher’s own value and also to “establish themselves in the Japanese pitching market.” This is particularly intriguing in the context of Detroit’s interest in Yoshinobu Yamamoto, and if Harris and Tigers ownership were prepared to break the bank on a player, it might be for this circumstance of a 25-year-old Japanese ace who might have up to a decade of prime baseball still ahead of him.
Shota Imanaga is another prominent name coming to the majors from NPB this winter, even if Imanaga is 30 and his ceiling isn’t considered as high as Yamamoto’s. It is also possible the Tigers might not be done with veteran pitchers from the Major League free agent market, as names like Seth Lugo and Luis Severino are also reportedly on Detroit’s radar as arms available on shorter-term and relatively less-expensive contracts.
An argument could’ve been made for the Twins to issue Maeda a qualifying offer as he entered free agency, yet with Minnesota planning to cut payroll next year, it is easy to see why the Twins might not have wanted to risk Maeda accepting the offer and locking in a $20.325MM salary for 2024. By not issuing a qualifying offer, Minnesota won’t receive anything in compensation for Maeda’s departure.
Jon Heyman of the New York Post (X link) was the first to report the agreement and the term length, while ESPN’s Jeff Passan reported the $24MM figure. Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press reported that Maeda’s deal was pending the pass of his physical.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images
All right then
The Guardians finished 1st runner-up.
If that’s the case they should thank their lucky stars Detroit came along.
Nothing says you want to be “aaaah…alright” like signing Kenta Maeda.
Its a good move. Bridge gap. He does well, Tigers might have a chance. If not, they trade him for younger talent. I like it.
You’re saying if he doesn’t pitch well, they can trade him for younger talent. Who would give up younger talent for an aging pitcher who isn’t pitching well?
You’d be surprised
I didn’t mean it like that, but I guess I worded it wrong. I don’t care though, I’ll take the 8 likes.
Basically, it doesn’t hurt them to sign him.
The same kind of deranged Tiger fans that think paying a broken down, ever-aging, sad sack of a SP like Maeda 12 million a year is a good idea.
That kind.
Undoubtedly former Avila apologists.
Career FIP of 3.74. Not a bad FIP of around 4.00 in 2023, so stats show he’s good. Health is the factor, but if he’s healthy and is your #3 or #4 with those numbers, I see no issue.
Beats paying it to Gibson or Lynn. Besides, Maeda was broken but now he’s fixed. He’s not supposed to be TOR, just a veteran who can keep them in games. It will be interesting to see what Wacha signs for.
He’s a totally adequate starter, and I like it’s a short deal.
This could be a really solid deal for the Tigers. Good move.
Miggy money
Agreed. Congrats Tigers. At least you are trying unlike some.
Exactly. So he was basically available for the same money as Kyle Gibson…….and we chose Kyle Gibson. Nice job Detroit. Solid move.
Gibson will provide 80 more innings with a slightly higher FIP
its the end of November, the hot stove pilot light just got lit
I agree. I don’t understand all the stupid comments about Gibson. he’s a great 4 or 5 starter. People can be so ignorant. did they believe they were going to sign 5 #1s? If Gibson gives you 180 innings of 4.0 to 4.5 ERA pitching from your 4th or 5th spot, that’s a win.
Don – Agreed, Gibson has never had a 5-year period as good as Maeda did from 2016-2020.
Maeda (along with Camargo) commanded a package of Graterol, Raley, and a 67th overall draft pick.
Gibson could never bring back as good a package.
Sadly for the Tigers, this is 2024.
St Louis fans may not like Gibson getting those 80 additional innings.
Not yet. Did you put up the new calendar early?
Why? Have you even looked at his stats? Or are you just blabbering to hear yourself type? His FIP was 4.13 and his WHIP was 1.3, which are both better stats than ERA, and both were average. And he was signed to be the number 4 guy.
Perfectly cromulent indeed.
Maeda embiggens the rotation.
Precursor to Yamamoto to Tigers.
I was thinking Ohtani but okay, now that the Japanese connection has been formalized. Maybe more Sushi places in Hamtramck to boot.
I like the fact you turned a nightmare into a dream.
Pitchers park.
Interesting. Let’s see how much he’s getting for the 2 years.
2/¥2,691,054,000.00
Lol I was pretty close. The number I had was 18mil over 2 years. Insured
Jeff Passan reported 2 years and $24M.
How much is that in yen?
¥3,585,036,000.00
Don’t know why my last comment says insured.
How much is that in Monopoly money?
It’s all Monopoly money, my friend!
Neither Google or Lougle had that answer.
Apparently you had a yen to know that.
ask Siri. she’s in a good mood.
I don’t have siri. I got Bixby but I don’t use it.
Yenta Maeda.
HA! Your best comment yet! That might be the most I’ve laughed since Craig left ugh. lol
Finally some news!
He’s every bit as good as Erod, just have to worry about the health at this point.
Good starter, which the Tigers need. Now go big and spend some of Cabreras money on Yomamota.
You mean Yamamoto?
No, Yomama
Save some money for arson judge
If they go that route, they’ll get burned.
Its good to want things
Well said, Roxy Carmichael.
Or they could get Otane or Grey
For the price it’s an ok deal. Not the most reliable but good when healthy.
Yeah I was thinking before the number was announced he’s pretty similar to Gibson little more upside little less reliable. Seems fair to me not great not bad fair.
I get that he’s older, but comparing him to Gibson is ridiculous. Maeda can actually pitch.
Gibson had an FIP barely over 4 in the AL East last year. Look it up
FIP is theoretical. ERA is real.
baseballsavant.mlb.com/savant-player/kyle-gibson-5…
Better stats than plain old FIP at this point. His xERA matched his actual to the decimal point. Which is actually pretty rare to see it line up perfectly. Gibby should be better in STL though. You got a #4 starter who eats a lot of innings.
Maeda has pitched 200 innings the last 3 years combined.
That’s not theoretical……
Gibson has also finished a season with an ERA over 5.00 on 6 different occasions. Maeda has never had an ERA higher than 4.66.
Maeda is always hurt. And you should use FIP not ERA. It’s a better stat.
Doesn’t matter if you’re healthy if you’re constantly getting shelled. Also FIP doesn’t work for all pitchers.
Opinions are like…
What pitcher does FIP not work for?
Love to hear this. Go ahead.
@joelp – 3 years?
yep waiting to hear this explained
He’s pitched 210.1 innings the last 3 years.
What exactly are you asking?
Gibby had 17 quality starts
When they stop using fielders in games, I will. Until then, it just tells you who the strikeout throwers are.
Quality starts are a low bar. 17 out of 33 is not that impressive. It definitely explains the 4.73 ERA.
Maeda had 13 out of 20 QS.
Yeah but Maeda only made 20 starts. What about all those starts he missed because of injury? They didn’t dust Nolan Ryan off and put him in there for those games.
FIP is not necessarily a great stat for pitchers who give up a ton of hard contact or ones who induce large amounts of soft contact. It treats a 100 mph+ line drive in the gap the same as a little dribbler that doesn’t leave the infield.
Gibson has been in the blue every season of the stat cast era for both average exit velocity and hard hit rate. This past season Gibson was in the 12th percentile for limiting hard contact. There is a reason he lead the league in hits allowed and it wasn’t the defense. Baltimore had one of the better defensive teams in the league this year.
FIP completely rewards strikeout pitchers and doesn’t fully appreciate pitch to contact pitchers. In theory it sounds great, but until you see the formula/stats. Pitching to contact is not a bad thing, especially with pitchers only throwing 100 pitches these days as they will outlast strikeout pitchers. It also erroneously thinks all contact is the same. Can’t distinguish soft contact from hard contact outside of HRs, but that’s not sophisticated enough.
Take for example Spencer Strider’s 2023 season and compare it to Greg Maddux’s 1993 season. Both had the same FIP of 2.85, even though in most categories Maddux was a better pitcher than Strider, including giving up 1.0 less walks per 9 innings and 0.6 less HRs per 9 innings. Maddux’s ERA of 2.36 was a run and half lower than Strider’s 3.86. And yes, Maddux threw 80+ more innings than Strider. Let’s face it Maddux was a much better pitcher in 1993 than Strider was in 2023. Not close. Does that sound right to you? There are certainly flaws with FIP if you want to rip into ERA.
I don’t know why opponent OPS (or OPS allowed or whatever you want to call it) hasn’t taken off as a pitching stat. Not saying OPS is perfect, but if we value it more for batters why couldn’t we look at it for pitchers? Maddux’s 1993 opponent OPS was 0.590 versus Strider’s 0.636. I view anything below 0.600 as elite, but 0.636 still a very good number. You can also view it relative to MLB average OPS to determine if a pitcher is below or above the average.
Styme
“FIP is theoretical. ERA is real.”
Oof. Terrible take
Seems like you don’t understand either FIP or ERA (or math)
How is saying, “this many runs would have scored if the defense made a play they should have made” not theoretical?
Solid signing. Not sure that means they will go after Yamamoto, and even if they do still likely some richer team outbids them. But this signing still improves the team.
Tigers Roaring into Free Agency
Solid signing. It improves the team. Now not sure that means the Tigers are going to go for Yamamoto, and even if they do, likely he prefers to go elsewhere. Plus, going to be hard to outbid some of the other interested teams.
Wake up. Reds, ffs
Good for Maeda. He’s solid and deserves to make some more $ after the bad contract he’s been tied to.
And congrats to Detroit. This signals an end to their rebuild and a new time for contending. Trading for Burnes would be a great next step.
Someone signed
And I missed another one!
Nice addition. Good job Scottie.
Good move here.
Very underrated signing. I’m with Mark Polishuk in believing he could be one of the better value signings of the offseason.
He could be. Unless, of course, he isn’t.
To be or not to be, that is the question.
I like this signing. If he can stay healthy he should be worth the money. Solid signing in what seems to be a costly pitchers market.
Cards should’ve given that money to Maeda instead of Lynn.
As Dodger fan was sweating out if they’d re-up Lynn. Got scared when I saw literature indicating they may sign em as innings eater. Would have to EAT ALOTA innings to make that deal work. Would rather have kid Ps getn the work. Stick fork in Lynn, think ur gonna see more of an era nearing the Himalayas in ’24. Take Maeda over Lynn as well, him n his 46bombs allowed. Lynn needs 2condition like pro athlete n not like he’s in primaries 4nathans hot dog contest.
Innings are the only thing Lance Lynn hasn’t been eating lately. That guy threw BP in the ALDS!
Solid signing for a team with a lot of young upside arms but not as much vet presence
I find it fascinating how many feel Detroit will sign Yamamoto in this platform. I just don’t feel they’re even in the same universe as a contender for him.
Why not? They’ve had nice things before! They have the money, they have Fetter, they have Hinch and they are an up and coming team.
At one point the Tigers had Miguel Cabrera, David Price, Max Scherzer, Torii Hunter, Victor Martinez, Justin Verlander on their roster. I think we the majority can agree those are all heavy hitters, and a couple of Hall of Fame guys.
@acoss: At other points, they had Ty Cobb, Sam Crawford, Charley Gehringer, Hank Greenberg, Rocky Colavito, Jim Bunning, Norm Cash, Bill Freehan, Mickey Lolich, Denny McClain, Al Kaline, Willie Horton, Rusty Staub, Alan Trammell, Lou Whitaker, Kirk Gibson, Willie Hernandez, Jack Morris, and Lance Parrish on their roster.
But none of those names have anything to do with their chances of signing Yamamoto.
If he goes to anyone but the large markets, I’ll be surprised, and it probably will be because the projections were way overblown.
In the AL Central, it doesn’t take much to contend. Once you are in the playoffs anything can happen. A starting rotation of Skubal, Yamamoto and Maeda with Mize and Manning added to the pen would be a solid pitching staff in the playoffs. They just need to find some offense. Hopefully Tork, Greene and Carpenter can build on 2023 and some young guys can step up. I don’t see any outside additions making much difference.
I grew up watching the late Mike Ilitch spend money on the team. They may not land Yamamato but I wouldn’t count them out on bidding for him.
@BabyBlue not that I see DET signing him, but when or where was it stated that contending is his top priority?? Obviously most if not all of these guys would prefer winning over losing. However ultimately this is their careers and they have a very small window to maximize their earnings. So I’d say ultimately $ is the top priority. That said I don’t see DET as a place for him to maximize his earnings, but there could always be something many overlook that agents and publicists see as ideal. Possibly a situation where he could easily become face of franchise and enough of an Asian community to make him feel comfortable. Again not saying I believe it to be the case, just stating the possibilities we often overlook.
If Yamamoto is signing a mega year deal, why would contending be a major consideration? Go back 3 years and look at the “contenders” then vs now. Baltimore and Arizona wouldn’t have been considered. Maybe not even the Phillies. Things change.
I like it. He’s a great 3 or 4 starter when healthy. I doubt they get Yamamoto though, he’ll go elsewhere…
Dominos are falling! Get that stove hot again.
So as it stands now their rotation appears to be
Skubal
Maeda
Mize
Olson
Faedo
Manning
Feel free to correct me if that’s wrong or if anyone is hurt I am not a Tigers fan.
Seems like they need 1 more starter. More of an innings guy instead of an upside guy. Lot of uncertainty in that rotation talent is there but lot of risk.
You’re definitely right they need at least one more starter. However, I would anticipate they reach for another upside guy in free agency. Their plan seems to be to supplement the lack of innings the rotation is able to throw by using bullpen guys who can pitch 80 innings a year (Faedo among them).
I suppose they could go upside but that’s a lot of unreliable arms there. I guess they need upside to be a contender but geez lot of risk.
Faedo is likely to spend more time in the bullpen. Sawyer Gipson-Long is in the mix too for innings in the starting rotation. Another innings eater would be nice…Yamamoto preferably but doubtful so maybe Flaherty?
I am a Cardinal fan. I wouldn’t call Flaherty an innings eater but I think he’s healthy. He throws too many pitches but he’s healthy and has upside so I think he’s a good fit for the Tigers sure.
Faedo seems to be a better fit in the bullpen, but they also have Sawyer Gibson Long, Wilmer Flores, Ty Madden and Jackson Jobe as minor league depth. Wouldn’t be surprised if they signed another mid level starter though.
Gipson-Long should have a real shot at the rotation. I think the Tigers have sufficient depth without another move.
I’m thinking maybe a Michael Lorenzen who could be shuffled to the pen if all of their starters are healthy and effective?
If they can pick up Severino and the lefty from Japan, I think they could piece together a decent rotation considering the huge injury risks.
Then try and find a 3b or a 2b and have Keith play the other. I would go Urshela ar 3b and Keith at second. That should be a good first step to respectability.
Urshela’ stats were way worse than Ibanez’s last year(and Vierling’s too). I don’t think he’s an upgrade at this point but agree a 3B upgrade is needed if they can find it.
Faedo is now strictly relief – bulk reliever Tigers are saying. Gibson-Long is also an up and coming starter and Jobe is a BEAST coming 2025.
I agree. That’s how I’m seeing it.
Good. More reliable than EduardoRodriguez who defected from the team for “family reasons”.
Good for Kenta. That’s awesome that he’ll make almost as much guranteed in the next two, than he’s made in his previous 8. Not a front line guy, but he’s a solid addition to almost any rotation. I always liked the guy, as a Dodgers fan. He was fun to watch, and he always gave them a chance to win a ball game.
Maeda is a nice pick up. Hopefully the Tigers sign at least one more starting pitcher bc even with Maeda the rotation looks very thin.
I think this is a great deal for the Tigers. Maeda is a solid lower end #2 or higher end #3 when healthy, and all signs point to him being fully healthy for 2024. 2 years and $24MM is cheap money for a quality starter these days.
The Twins not pulling the trigger at that price is disturbing. Either they were trying to drive the price up (failed) or they were legitimately interested and lowballing (failed).
I mean the only time Maeda looked like a #2 was the COVID season in Minn. He’s a solid mid-backend arm with a bit of upside though. Just can’t expect him to take the ball 30 times a year.
Correction. The only time Maeda looked like potentially an Ace (not #2) was the COVID season.
2016 – 32GS 175.2 IP 3.48 ERA 3.58 FIP
2018 – 20GS 120.1 IP 3.81 ERA, 3.22 FIP
2020 – 11GS 66.2 IP 2.70 ERA, 3.00 FIP
2023 – 16GS 88.1 IP, 3.36 ERA, 3.93 FIP (After IL)
He’s got plenty of years in there he’d slot in as a back end #2 or top #3. Not sure why you can’t trust him to take the ball 30 games.
Here’s Maeda’s IL history
2016 – None.
2017 – 10 day IL (hamstring) missed 14 days
2018 – 10 day IL (hip) missed 14 days
2019 – 10 day IL (leg bruise, foul tip) missed minimum 10 days
2020 – None
2021 – UCL tear, attempted rest/rehab, shut down for TJ.
2022 – Did not play TJ recovery
2023 – 15 day IL arm fatigue/triceps strain missed 2 months
Apart from his UCL tear and the recovery process from it, Maeda’s been pretty healthy.
Quite a few cherries were picked there.
He was a partial reliever in most of those seasons. You’re lumping those in and the results still look a lot more like a #3. He’s made 30 starts once when he was a rookie. He did look like a potential low end #2 back then also. That was my one miss.
The last 2 seasons Kenta Maeda has stepped on a baseball field he’s looked like a #3-4 starter at the very best. One who doesn’t go very deep into most ballgames.
All that being said, I like the signing quite a bit. If you can squeeze out #3ish production for $12MM a year— that’s a team friendly deal.
With a going rate that is similar on an AAV basis to guys like Lance Lynn and Kyle Gibson — it’d be tough to dislike the deal.
@BrianStrowmang – The last two years… you mean when he had a significant UCL tear and was recovering from TJ? You’re right. If Maeda is pitching with a torn UCL or a sprained triceps, he’s not a potential #2 or high #3… LOL… really, man…
Like I showed with data rather than your pre-conceived opinion. Maeda has been pretty healthy, and he’s been available to start 30 games in each of his first 5 seasons had his teams chosen to use him that way.
Maeda averaged 5.1 innings and 86 pitches, but Maeda did pitch as much as 105 as needed (Baldelli has a pretty hard rule about TTO). If Maeda was asked to average 95 pitches, he’d average 6.0 innings per start. He’s fine.
Tigers have money to spend this winter. Expect them to be active
Reds have money to spend too but don’t expect a daggone thing.
They could have been in on Maeda if they wanted.
Really surprised nobody offered more. For that price & length woulda been a great fit for a bunch of teams.
Same here. One would think if he had waited a bit longer, he could have easily topped this offer.
Guardians keep eyeing the bottom of the free agent barrel., their usual strategy. We’ll just take what nobody else wants.
I feel your pain.
Solid low-risk pick up for the Tiggies that could pay off handsomely. I would not have minded my O’s taking a swing on him at that price.
Super happy with this signing. Harris is filling holes early with quality vets who won’t block the young guys like Madden and Jobe coming up in a couple years. Keep it up. Yamamoto, solid BP arm and a middle of the order bat for Xmas? Looking firmware to the winter meetings.
But can HARRIS sign/acquire someone meaningful under age 35? Hoping for a last hurrah is fine, but not a reliable method.
Canha and Maeda are just bridges to young players coming up in 2024 and 2025 who help make them competitive now.
I wanted the Red Sox to get him, especially at a price like this. Really nice signing by the Tigers.
Fair deal. If healthy he could be a bargain.
How come the Dodgers didn’t want him back?
Dodgers need top of the rotation guys. The staff is already full of 4s and 5s who profile similar numbers as Maeda for alot less money.
Good deal for the Tigers
It’s appears to be a nice addition. I am concerned that he is 36 and doesn’t pitch deep. It will be interesting to see if he can stay healthy.
My free agent prediction entry is off to a great start. Boy do I stink
Good value signing by the tigers. I wanted him on the Mets. Solid backend guy w potential for more when healthy.
Happy for him. He’s a good dude
Good pitcher, a number 3 or 4 guy at this point in his career, if you have a great rotation. Overpay but mid starting pitchers all getting paid like they are number 2s.
Classless act to bolt from the Twinkies after they paid for a year of his services while out with TJ and then patiently waited out his recovery from his triceps strain last year.
But then, did the Twinkies even present an offer??
How in the world is this classless? It’s not like he disputed his contract and “held out”. He honored his contract just as the Twins did. His injury was part of the game.
While we’re on the subject, is it classless when a player doesn’t live up to his contract? Is it classless when a team DFAs a guy who’s already been DFAd twice in the same month?
This is huge, huge far cry from classless, dude.
The team stuck with him and honored their end of the contract.
They stuck with hi, in the aftermath of his TJ.
The team didn’t try to rush him back, although they could have.
Considering the nature of the surgery, the team was very understanding.
The team was also prudent for the player’s career in the return from his triceps injury.
Even if the Twinkies failed to step up with an offer,
The player should have given them an opportunity to present one.
If he, or his agent didn’t do that, that was classless.
And you know for certain that he didn’t give us a chance to counter the Tigers offer??
Man, I couldn’t disagree with you more.
The team had no choice but to stick with him, he was signed to a major league contract that was fully guaranteed. They also can not force a player back until they are healthy. They can have them seek other medical opinions, but if they are clearly injured they can not be forced back.
And despite time missed, the amount he earned in relation to that amount of pitching he did while with the Twins was an absolute bargain.
The narrative you are trying to spin and hopefully are not foolish enough to believe is foolish and laughable. Absolutely ignorant comment.
Any time a player signs a free agent deal with a different team they are considered classless. Great theory.
The Tigers spent $27 million on ERod and Matthew Boyd last year. For $12 million they’ll get just as much as they got for those two in ’23.
I’m a little suspicious that Harris and Illitch just might take a swing at Yamamoto.
But then again, everybody but the A’s and Pirates will take a swing at Yamamoto.
In itself, getting Maeda for $ 24m over two years is a solid deal, if not a good one for the Tigers. Maeda’s ERA was much improved over the second half of last year and Comerica Park might alleviate his HR troubles to some extent.
If the Tigers view Maeda as their TOR starter signing, they will need quite some luck to have a decent rotation. However, if Maeda is signed with a high-potential starter still to come (like Yamamoto, Montgomery or Glasnow, whose short-term profile might make the most sense for the Tigers), Detroit could see another team making a big leap ahead.
Gruß,
BSHH
I’m actually very surprised the Twins didn’t match this (perhaps they did and Kenta just wanted out) because this pretty much our(reported) budget for another starter. Maybe the Twins just wanted him back in long relief. I, for one, wanted him back at this price point, though he’s not my plan A.
Good for him, though. Will be missed.
The 2nd year was probably the clincher. Most aging starters are getting 1 year + club option. Not sure why the Tigers even with the 2nd year.
The new ace of the staff. He’ll have to nursemaid the other starters to get them above a hundred innings. At least we have one guy that’ll do 150 so it’s a great deal. Great signing.
Skubal is clearly the ace
Good solid signing along with Cahna, its a Good start for tigers this off season..Skubal Manning Maeda,Mize, another Veteran Starting pitcher along with a couple of The Tigers kids would give the Tigers a chance to have a very solid rotation…now need help at 2nd and 3rd base…And add couple arms to give some bullpen depth…so more work to do for sure…..And Yamamoto to is not coming to Detroit… So dream on
Maeda is awesome. I would have loved to see him sign in Anaheim. Wishing him the best of luck in Detroit.
I’m going to go early when the Angels play the Tigers and see if he’ll sign a ball. Been following him since the Carp. Way to go dude!
I thought the giants would have been seriously interested when the contract was expected to be 2 years.
32 Maeda mentions…new record.
I read this as the “Twins” instead of “Tigers” multiple times throughout today… I’m getting old.
I’m not sure what Maeda has left, but this seems like a low risk move to me. I like it.
2023 was a return from injury he appeared in 21 games for the Twins while starting 20 of them, pitched 104 innings and allowed 4.23 runs per game. Maeda quietly struck out 117 batters, only walking 28 with a 1.169WHIP. The guy allowed three runs or fewer in 18 games, even though three of those were three innings or less, but 15 is still good. His FIP a averaged 4.19 over his last 25 innings but he didn’t pitch at all before last year….
He’s fine, the offense…
I still wouldn’t mind seeing the Tigers make another acquisition this off-season. Perhaps a utility infielder who can play second and third, maybe even shortstop.
I’d like them to trade for a young shortstop like Arroyo who can wait in the mi ors if life is good, but who they could also bring up and park Baez on the bench if he keeps hitting like a cat chasing a light beam. They seem to have a lot of utility guys who fit that profile, but there are not many 3B out there who might be available, so seems like Ibanez and Vierling will get the call.
The Tigers have McKinstry, Ibanez, Kriedler Lipcius, Leonard and Maton.
Why would they prioritize a utility IF?
I should have said the Tigers need “a good utility infielder”. Right now, they have Ibanez. Maton and Kriedler are useless, McKinstry isn’t a whole lot better. And Lipcius, Perez and Leonard are unproven.
Even the most stout of the ancients still begrudging Japan’s damage to the Motor City might look the other way (and maybe not key the next Toyota they see) if this signing leads to both Ohtani and Yamamoto joining the Tigers.
Of course, the thought of that happening is hilarity, but still. That would be something if each star from Japan joins hands in Detroit Fab Five style.
That particular trail has already been blazed, you know,
The Messiah!
It will all come down to the $$$$$. I can see other owners being more comfortable with offering what it will take to sign him. Chris I might surprise me, but not holding my breath.
I think the Tigers may go after either Shota Imanaga or Yuki Matsui!
Congratulations!
12M a year X2 is exactly where Maeda should be. Good back end starter who can relieve if younger guys are ready. Real good with this signing.
Starting to wonder what’s up with the Mets. If they’re not contending they could have signed the three starters the Cards signed (or subbed in someone more reliable for Lynn), assuming they want anyone in attendance in 2024. They’ve only been linked to Severino, who’s at best the fourth starter they’ll sign whether or not they want to contend if they’re even serious about getting to .500.
Are they in Yamamoto or bust mode? Sign YY and they’re a 1/4 or a 1/3 of the way towards 85 wins without sacrificing future seasons. Fail to sign YY and what’s the route to contention that doesn’t burden the team with post-prime players in 2026 and after?
Or are they punting entirely and looking to get 112 starts after Senga and Quntana, mostly from Megill, Peterson, Lucchesi, Butto, Scott, Vasil, Hamil, and Tidwell—while hoping that a full year in Mauricio, Baty, and Vientos in 2024 turns at least one of them into a useful regular?
The bench is shaping up as Zack Short, DJ Stewart, and Omar Narvaez…
Yeah, they’re punting. Enjoy your #3 starter, Tylor Megill.
rewarding mediocrity, AGAIN! what a joke
And if they out-bid the Phillies for Nola you’d say they’ll come to regret the contract. Which is it? The Maeda signing makes sense because of all the young pitchers they are developing. You should see the AA rotation at the end of this past season! A steady veteran on a short-term contract is exactly what the Tigers need for 2024 and 2025.
This type of deal doesn’t really scare me, he’s been consistent when healthy. Pirates now need to get out there and offer something similar to Lugo or Wacha, and bring in Montas with an option year.
Still room to pluck an interesting Rule V arm if they want to. Lots of interesting arms out there that could be worth a bullpen spot.
First smart move Harris has made! This justifies letting Turnbull go, his money pays part of this salary. Just hope there’s more to come, our pitching needs help too!