Kenta Maeda (37) of the Detroit Tigers will start the season as a relief pitcher.
The Japanese media, Sponichi Annex, reported on the 23rd that "it has been decided that Maeda of the Tigers will start as a middle reliever from the beginning of the season. Manager A.J. Hinch made it clear."
Maeda is a veteran right-handed pitcher who has a career record of 97 wins and 67 losses with an earned run average of 2.39 over 218 games (1,509⅔ innings) in Nippon Professional Baseball, and 68 wins and 56 losses with 10 holds and 6 saves and an earned run average of 4.17 over 219 games (978⅔ innings) in Major League Baseball. Maeda entered Major League Baseball in 2016 after signing an 8-year contract worth up to $102 million (about 155.6 billion won) with the Los Angeles Dodgers. However, the guaranteed amount of the contract was only $25 million (about 36.6 billion won), and during his time with the Dodgers, there was controversy over the team's use of him as a relief pitcher to avoid incentives.
Eventually, Maeda, who had accumulated grievances, requested a trade and was transferred to Minnesota in February 2020 through a three-way trade involving the Dodgers and Boston. Maeda underwent elbow surgery and missed an entire season, but in three seasons with Minnesota, he recorded 18 wins and 14 losses with an earned run average of 4.02 over 53 games (277⅓ innings).
After obtaining free agency qualification at the end of the 2023 season, Maeda signed a 2-year contract worth $24 million (about 35.2 billion won) with Detroit. However, he struggled last year, with only 3 wins and 7 losses and an earned run average of 6.09 over 29 games (112⅓ innings), and ultimately fell out of the starting rotation, failing to make the postseason roster. Currently, he has a remaining contract worth $12 million (about 17.6 billion won) for one year, but there are discussions about the possibility of being released or traded.
Maeda, who challenged for a return to the starting rotation, recorded 2 losses and an earned run average of 5.68 over 4 spring training games (12⅔ innings). Ultimately, Manager Hinch decided to use Maeda as a relief pitcher. Regarding his exclusion from the competition for a starting pitcher spot, Maeda said, "I competed for a starting pitcher role, so it's disappointing."
However, Manager Hinch does acknowledge Maeda's abilities to some extent. He hinted that "he will be pitching in important innings," suggesting that Maeda could become a key relief pitcher. Maeda also expressed his intention, saying, "I want to appeal consistently" and indicated his desire to return to starting pitcher status after performing well in the bullpen.
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