CHICAGO — With their pitching reserves running low, the Chicago Cubs are in the process of adding veteran right-hander Kenta Maeda to their organization on a minor-league deal.
Cubs manager Craig Counsell confirmed the agreement before Friday’s crosstown game against the Chicago White Sox at Wrigley Field. The Detroit Tigers designated Maeda for assignment on May 1, and then released the Japanese pitcher last week, leaving his baseball future uncertain at the age of 37.
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In taking a flier on Maeda, the Cubs are reacting to the injuries that have sidelined starters Justin Steele, Shota Imanaga and Javier Assad, who were all once projected to be part of the season-opening rotation.
At his best, Maeda was a 16-game winner for the Los Angeles Dodgers as a rookie in 2016. He also finished second in the 2020 American League Cy Young Award voting, off his performance with the Minnesota Twins during the pandemic-shortened season. His resume includes 27 postseason appearances, primarily as a reliever.
“He has had success,” Counsell said. “He’s struggled. He’s on a minor-league contract. It’s a player who you have to have constant conversations with, and see where we can maybe make some adjustments, and see where he’s at.”
Maeda missed the 2022 season while recovering from Tommy John surgery, but he pitched well enough in his return in 2023 to land a $24 million contract with the Tigers that covered the 2024 and 2025 seasons.
While the Tigers unleashed “pitching chaos” during last year’s playoff run, enhancing their reputation for game plans and player development, things never clicked for Maeda in Detroit.
Maeda posted a 6.09 ERA over 112 1/3 innings last year, and he allowed eight runs in eight innings this season before the Tigers dropped him from their roster.
(Photo: David Berding / Getty Images)
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