Latest news with #KentaMaeda
Yahoo
18-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Detroit Tigers designate Kenta Maeda for assignment, bring up Tyler Owens
ANAHEIM, CA. — The Detroit Tigers bullpen has turned into a revolving door − with comings, goings and more to come − trying to find the right combination "to help us win." The Tigers designated 37-year-old right-handed reliever Kenta Maeda for assignment May 1, while recalling Tyler Owens. Advertisement In addition, reliever Andrew Chafin, who did not make the Opening Day roster and was pitching for Triple-A Toledo, signed with the Washington Nationals. More: Kenta Maeda threw a pitch so bad for Detroit Tigers it didn't even get tracked by Statcast Finally, reliever Beau Brieske has joined the Tigers in Anaheim, although he won't be eligible to return from the 15-day injured list until May 3. President of baseball operations Scott Harris and Hinch told Maeda on May 1 at the team hotel in Anaheim. 'It's tough, because when he was good, he really helped us,' Hinch said. 'When he struggled, we really didn't get him back on track.' Advertisement The Tigers signed Maeda to a two-year, $24 million contract on Nov. 28, 2023. He struggled as a starter in 2024 before ending the season in the bullpen. He made the 2025 Opening Day roster, moving to the bullpen fulltime, but he was used in low leverage situations. He pitched in seven games and had a 7.88 ERA. Kenta Maeda of the Detroit Tigers reacts in the eighth inning against the Houston Astros at Daikin Park on April 29, 2025 in Houston. 'It's a frustrating end to his time here,' Hinch said. 'He was disappointed that he just didn't get on track and didn't contribute.' While the Tigers have helped rehab several veteran pitchers, including Jack Flaherty, they were unable to get Maeda on track. 'It was a frustrating time for him,' Hinch said. 'We couldn't get him on track, and he couldn't get himself on track, and that is a bad combo.' Advertisement Owens, a 24-year-old reliever, pitched in 12 games for Triple-A Toledo, striking out 11 and walking nine. 'We do want to create opportunity for the young players and young pitchers,' Hinch said. 'We're really excited about Tyler and some of the adjustments that we asked him to work on from the beginning of the season, specifically this last week.' The Tigers acquired Owens on July 28, 2024, in the Carson Kelly trade to the Texas Rangers. 'He's got a good arm,' Hinch said. 'He's a good-looking prospect pitcher, and this is the next challenge for him. When we acquired him last year. I heard a lot about his aggressiveness. Advertisement "I heard a lot about his pitches and his mix and his high-end velo. And then we got a chance to know him in the spring, and he was very advanced in the reliever mode, of being in attack mode, being somebody that comes in and challenges hitters.' But he struggled to throw strikes this spring. But he made some adjustments over the last few weeks. More: Javier Báez has recaptured some of the magic for Detroit Tigers 'When he got his delivery under control in Triple-A these last couple of weeks, he started to get better feel for his pitches,' Hinch said. 'He started to throw more strikes. "He got off to a really slow start. As he's turning the corner, we feel like he's somebody who can be dynamic in the pen and get lefties out, get righties out, provided that his execution is there. I would think he can help us win.' Advertisement And that is key. The Tigers were using Maeda in low-leverage situations, refusing to pitch him in games that he might lose a lead. 'When I say this about all the guys that we bring up, we don't want a gap in our in our pen, where we feel like we can't use somebody or we feel like we want to stay away from somebody,' Hinch said. Hinch was not certain what the Tigers would do when Brieske is eligible to return. 'We'll see how that all plays out,' Hinch said. 'We have to worry about today's game and tomorrow's game and get after it the best we can to win before we can even consider what to do with Beau.' Advertisement Contact Jeff Seidel: jseidel@ Follow him on X @seideljeff. This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Tigers designate Kenta Maeda for assignment, call up Tyler Owens
Yahoo
18-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Kenta Maeda signs minor-league deal with Chicago Cubs after Detroit Tigers cut
Former Detroit Tigers pitcher Kenta Maeda has found a new home. Maeda has signed a minor-league deal with the Chicago Cubs, first reported by Japanese outlet Daily Sports and confirmed by Vinne Duber of the Chicago Sun-Times. Advertisement The Tigers designated the struggling Maeda for assignment on May 1, essentially cutting the veteran righty from the roster. Detroit Tigers pitcher Kenta Maeda (18) delivers a pitch against Chicago White Sox during the eighth inning of home opening day at Comerica Park in Detroit on Friday, April 4, 2025. BEHIND THE PLATE: Detroit Tigers' Dillon Dingler doesn't take walks. He's still one of best catchers in MLB Maeda initially joined the Tigers on a two-year, $24 million contract in November 2023, and had an ineffective tenure in a little over a season in Detroit. The veteran, who turned 37 in April, went 3-7 with a 6.09 ERA over 112⅓ innings last season, starting 17 games and appearing in another 12 out of the bullpen. In spring training this year, Maeda aimed to fill the fifth spot in the Tigers rotation but soon was returned to the bullpen in favor of fellow right-handers Casey Mize and rookie Jackson Jobe. This season, Maeda struggled in low-leverage situations, posting a 7.88 ERA over eight innings pitched, finishing five games mostly in blowout situations. Advertisement Because the Cubs signed Maeda to a minor-league deal, the Tigers are still responsible for the remainder of Maeda's contract this year — about $10 million — while the Cubs will pay him on a new contract. Celebrate the Tigers' 125 epic seasons with a new book! You can reach Christian at cromo@ [ NEW TIGERS NEWSLETTER! Sign up for The Purr-fect Game, a weekly dose of Tigers news, numbers and analysis for Freep subscribers, here. ] This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Ex-Detroit Tigers RHP Kenta Maeda signs with Chicago Cubs
New York Times
16-05-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Chicago Cubs set to add Kenta Maeda on a minor-league deal
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. Advertisement 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.
Reuters
16-05-2025
- Sport
- Reuters
RHP Kenta Maeda signs minor league deal with Cubs
May 16 - Just over a week after he was released by the Detroit Tigers, veteran right-hander Kenta Maeda agreed to a minor league contract with the Chicago Cubs on Friday. Maeda, 37, had a 7.88 ERA in seven relief appearances for the Tigers before he was designated for assignment on May 1 and placed on release waivers May 7. Maeda signed a two-year, $24 million deal with the Tigers prior to the 2024 season but failed to meet expectations. He went 3-7 with a 6.09 ERA last season in 29 appearances (17 starts) before the struggles continued this season. Maeda has a 68-56 record and a 4.20 ERA in 226 appearances (172 starts) with the Los Angeles Dodgers (2016-19), Minnesota Twins (2020-23) and Tigers. He missed the entire 2022 season after undergoing Tommy John surgery late in the 2021 season. Maeda won a career-best 16 games for the Dodgers in 2016 when he placed third in National League Rookie of the Year race. He was runner-up for the American League Cy Young Award in the pandemic-shortened 2020 campaign. --Field Level Media
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
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:
