The Detroit Tigers were mentioned to be actively looking for a starting pitcher this offseason, and today they got their guys as they made the first big splash of free agent signing Kenta Maeda to a two-year $24 million contract pending a physical, which will come Monday. The signing of Maeda also allows them to steal a pitcher from a division rival.
Kenta Maeda By The Numbers
Maeda signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers on January 7, 2016, and would debut on April 6. In that start, he went six innings, giving up just five hits and no runs; he didn’t issue a walk and struck out four. He would go on to make 32 starts that season, going 16-11 with a 3.48 ERA, a 3.58 FIP, a 1.0 HR/9, a 2.6 BB/9, and a 9.2 K/9; he finished third in the Rookie of the Year voting for the National League. He would pitch four seasons with the Dodgers, making 137 appearances, with 103 of those being starts going 47-35 with a 3.87 ERA, a 3.71 FIP, a 1.15 WHIP, a 1.2 HR/9, a 2.7 BB/9, and a 9.8 K/9. The Dodgers would trade him to the Minnesota Twins in February of 2020 as part of the trade that helped lead the Dodgers to acquire Mookie Betts and David Price from the Boston Red Sox. In three seasons with the Twins, Maeda made 53 appearances with 52 starts, going 18-14 with a 4.02 ERA, a 3.81 FIP, a 1.4 HR/9, a 2.3 BB/9, and a 10.1 K/9. This season, he made 21 appearances, starting 6-8 with a 4.23 ERA, a 4.02 FIP, a 1.16 WHIP, a 1.5 HR/9, a 2.4 BB/9, and a 10.1 K/9. He also pitched in the ALDS for the Twins this season in relief, appearing in two games going 0-0 with a 6.75 ERA. For his career, he is 65-49 in 190 games and 155 starts with a 3.92 ERA, a 3.74 FIP, a 1.14 WHIP, a 1.2 HR/9, a 2.6 BB/9, and a 9.9 K/9. He has an 8.4 career WAR, a 24.9 strikeout percentage, and a 7.0 walk percentage.
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