Cubs agree to a minor league deal with struggling right-hander Kenta Maeda
Detroit Tigers pitcher Kenta Maeda reacts after the final out against the Baltimore Orioles in the ninth inning during a baseball game, Sunday, April 27, 2025, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
Detroit Tigers pitcher Kenta Maeda throws against the Houston Astros during the eighth inning of a baseball game Tuesday, April 29, 2025, in Houston. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
Detroit Tigers pitcher Kenta Maeda throws against the Houston Astros during the eighth inning of a baseball game Tuesday, April 29, 2025, in Houston. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
Detroit Tigers pitcher Kenta Maeda reacts after the final out against the Baltimore Orioles in the ninth inning during a baseball game, Sunday, April 27, 2025, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
Detroit Tigers pitcher Kenta Maeda throws against the Houston Astros during the eighth inning of a baseball game Tuesday, April 29, 2025, in Houston. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
CHICAGO (AP) — The Chicago Cubs have agreed to a minor league contract with Kenta Maeda, giving the struggling right-hander another chance to regain his form.
Cubs manager Craig Counsell confirmed the deal before Friday's game against the White Sox.
Advertisement
The 37-year-old Maeda had a 7.88 ERA in seven relief appearances for Detroit before he was designated for assignment on May 1. He went 3-7 with a 6.09 ERA in 17 starts and 12 relief appearances in his first year with the Tigers after agreeing to a $24 million, two-year contract in November 2023.
'I think it's a player that you got to have a constant conversation with, and see where we can maybe make some adjustments and see where he's at,' Counsell said.
Maeda made his major league debut with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2016, going 16-11 with a 3.48 ERA in 32 starts. He went 6-1 with a 2.70 ERA in 11 starts for Minnesota during the pandemic-shortened 2020 season, finishing second in AL Cy Young Award balloting.
Maeda, who missed the 2022 season because of Tommy John surgery, is 68-56 with a 4.20 ERA in 226 major league games, including 172 starts.
Advertisement
The NL Central-leading Cubs have three key starting pitchers on the injured list. Shota Imanaga has a mild left hamstring strain, and Javier Assad has an oblique issue. Justin Steele is out for the rest of the season with an elbow injury.
Imanaga got hurt during a 4-0 loss at Milwaukee on May 4. Counsell said the team wants to get through this weekend before laying out a plan for Imanaga's return.
'For now, we're just continuing to throw,' Counsell said. 'He's kind of having a high day, a medium day, a low day throwing, but continuing to throw every day on that kind of rotational cycle.'
The Cubs also are playing without left fielder Ian Happ, who is on the 10-day IL with a left oblique strain. The three-time Gold Glove winner got hurt on a swing last week.
Advertisement
'I think tomorrow is kind of a bigger day to see where we're at with Ian, because obviously we have to progress towards hitting if we're talking about (activating him on) Tuesday,' Counsell said.
___
AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CBS News
4 minutes ago
- CBS News
Mets beat Nats, 5-0 as Peterson pitches 1st complete game
David Peterson pitched a six-hitter for the first nine-inning complete game of his professional career, and the New York Mets beat the Washington Nationals 5-0 on Wednesday night for their fifth straight win. Brandon Nimmo homered twice and Juan Soto went deep against his former team for the second consecutive night. Pete Alonso put the Mets ahead in the first inning with his major league-high 63rd RBI, his 20th in the past 10 games. NL East-leading New York moved a season-best 20 games over .500 at 44-24. Peterson (5-2) won his third decision in a row, striking out six and walking none in a game that took just 2 hours, 16 minutes. He threw 106 pitches and lowered his ERA to 2.49. Mets center fielder Tyrone Taylor threw out Luis García Jr. trying to score from second in the eighth on Jacob Young's sharp single. Peterson's only prior professional complete game was a four-hitter in a rain-shorted, five-inning loss to Atlanta on April 28, 2023. His previous nine-inning complete game came in college, a four-hit shutout for Oregon against Arizona State on April 28, 2017. New York's previous complete game was a four-hit shutout by Luis Severino against Miami last Aug. 17. Peterson pitched the seventh shutout and 14th complete game in the major leagues this season. Washington has lost four straight and seven of nine. Soto, who played for the Nationals from 2018 until he was traded to San Diego in August 2022, followed Francisco Lindor's double off Jake Irvin (5-3) with his 13th homer, a two-run drive on a hanging curve in the third. Nimmo homered in the fifth off Irvin and in the seventh against Jackson Rutledge for his eighth career multihomer game. Irvin allowed four runs, five hits and three walks in five innings. He has a 10.29 ERA in the first inning this year and has given up 13 homers in 13 starts. Key moment Soto's drive over the right-field fence was caught on the fly by a young fan wearing a baseball glove. Key stat Alonso tied for the most RBIs by a Mets player in a 10-game span during a single season. He matched Mike Piazza (1999 and 2000), Yoenis Céspedes (2016) and Lindor (2022). Up next Mets RHP Kodai Senga (6-3, 1.59), the NL ERA leader, and Nationals RHP Michael Soroka (3-3, 4.86) start Thursday afternoon's series finale.
Yahoo
8 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Peterson pitches 1st complete game as Mets get 2 homers from Nimmo and 1 from Soto to beat Nats 5-0
New York Mets' Francisco Lindor turns toward second base for a double during the third inning of a baseball game against the Washington Nationals Wednesday, June 11, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II) Washington Nationals' Jake Irvin pitches during the second inning of a baseball game against the New York Mets Wednesday, June 11, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II) New York Mets' Brandon Nimmo follows through on a home run during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Washington Nationals Wednesday, June 11, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II) New York Mets' Juan Soto (22) follows through on a two-run home run during the third inning of a baseball game against the Washington Nationals Wednesday, June 11, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II) New York Mets' David Peterson pitches during the first inning of a baseball game against the Washington Nationals Wednesday, June 11, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II) New York Mets' David Peterson pitches during the first inning of a baseball game against the Washington Nationals Wednesday, June 11, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II) New York Mets' Francisco Lindor turns toward second base for a double during the third inning of a baseball game against the Washington Nationals Wednesday, June 11, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II) Washington Nationals' Jake Irvin pitches during the second inning of a baseball game against the New York Mets Wednesday, June 11, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II) New York Mets' Brandon Nimmo follows through on a home run during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Washington Nationals Wednesday, June 11, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II) New York Mets' Juan Soto (22) follows through on a two-run home run during the third inning of a baseball game against the Washington Nationals Wednesday, June 11, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II) New York Mets' David Peterson pitches during the first inning of a baseball game against the Washington Nationals Wednesday, June 11, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II) NEW YORK (AP) — David Peterson pitched a six-hitter for the first nine-inning complete game of his professional career, and the New York Mets beat the Washington Nationals 5-0 on Wednesday night for their fifth straight win. Brandon Nimmo homered twice and Juan Soto went deep against his former team for the second consecutive night. Pete Alonso put the Mets ahead in the first inning with his major league-high 63rd RBI, his 20th in the past 10 games. Advertisement NL East-leading New York moved a season-best 20 games over .500 at 44-24. Peterson (5-2) won his third decision in a row, striking out six and walking none in a game that took just 2 hours, 16 minutes. He threw 106 pitches and lowered his ERA to 2.49. Mets center fielder Tyrone Taylor threw out Luis García Jr. trying to score from second in the eighth on Jacob Young's sharp single. Peterson's only prior professional complete game was a four-hitter in a rain-shorted, five-inning loss to Atlanta on April 28, 2023. His previous nine-inning complete game came in college, a four-hit shutout for Oregon against Arizona State on April 28, 2017. Advertisement New York's previous complete game was a four-hit shutout by Luis Severino against Miami last Aug. 17. Peterson pitched the seventh shutout and 14th complete game in the major leagues this season. Washington has lost four straight and seven of nine. Soto, who played for the Nationals from 2018 until he was traded to San Diego in August 2022, followed Francisco Lindor's double off Jake Irvin (5-3) with his 13th homer, a two-run drive on a hanging curve in the third. Nimmo homered in the fifth off Irvin and in the seventh against Jackson Rutledge for his eighth career multihomer game. Irvin allowed four runs, five hits and three walks in five innings. He has a 10.29 ERA in the first inning this year and has given up 13 homers in 13 starts. Advertisement Key moment Soto's drive over the right-field fence was caught on the fly by a young fan wearing a baseball glove. Key stat Alonso tied for the most RBIs by a Mets player in a 10-game span during a single season. He matched Mike Piazza (1999 and 2000), Yoenis Céspedes (2016) and Lindor (2022). Up next Mets RHP Kodai Senga (6-3, 1.59), the NL ERA leader, and Nationals RHP Michael Soroka (3-3, 4.86) start Thursday afternoon's series finale. ___ AP MLB:
Associated Press
12 minutes ago
- Associated Press
Peterson pitches 1st complete game as Mets get 2 homers from Nimmo and 1 from Soto to beat Nats 5-0
NEW YORK (AP) — David Peterson pitched a six-hitter for the first nine-inning complete game of his professional career, and the New York Mets beat the Washington Nationals 5-0 on Wednesday night for their fifth straight win. Brandon Nimmo homered twice and Juan Soto went deep against his former team for the second consecutive night. Pete Alonso put the Mets ahead in the first inning with his major league-high 63rd RBI, his 20th in the past 10 games. NL East-leading New York moved a season-best 20 games over .500 at 44-24. Peterson (5-2) won his third decision in a row, striking out six and walking none in a game that took just 2 hours, 16 minutes. He threw 106 pitches and lowered his ERA to 2.49. Mets center fielder Tyrone Taylor threw out Luis García Jr. trying to score from second in the eighth on Jacob Young's sharp single. Peterson's only prior professional complete game was a four-hitter in a rain-shorted, five-inning loss to Atlanta on April 28, 2023. His previous nine-inning complete game came in college, a four-hit shutout for Oregon against Arizona State on April 28, 2017. New York's previous complete game was a four-hit shutout by Luis Severino against Miami last Aug. 17. Peterson pitched the seventh shutout and 14th complete game in the major leagues this season. Washington has lost four straight and seven of nine. Soto, who played for the Nationals from 2018 until he was traded to San Diego in August 2022, followed Francisco Lindor's double off Jake Irvin (5-3) with his 13th homer, a two-run drive on a hanging curve in the third. Nimmo homered in the fifth off Irvin and in the seventh against Jackson Rutledge for his eighth career multihomer game. Irvin allowed four runs, five hits and three walks in five innings. He has a 10.29 ERA in the first inning this year and has given up 13 homers in 13 starts. Key moment Soto's drive over the right-field fence was caught on the fly by a young fan wearing a baseball glove. Key stat Alonso tied for the most RBIs by a Mets player in a 10-game span during a single season. He matched Mike Piazza (1999 and 2000), Yoenis Céspedes (2016) and Lindor (2022). Up next Mets RHP Kodai Senga (6-3, 1.59), the NL ERA leader, and Nationals RHP Michael Soroka (3-3, 4.86) start Thursday afternoon's series finale. ___ AP MLB:
