Seeking to add potential starting pitching depth, the New York Yankees have reportedly signed Kenta Maeda to a minor-league contract.
The team announced the signing Monday evening. Maeda will report to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. Earlier, the New York Post's Jon Heyman reported that Maeda and the Yankees were in discussions on a possible deal. Independent journalist Yuki Yamada followed with a report that the two sides had agreed to a contract.
Maeda, 37, was designated for assignment by the Detroit Tigers in May after seven appearances in which he compiled a 7.86 ERA with eight strikeouts in eight innings. The right-hander signed a two-year, $24 million contract with the Tigers before the 2024 season. He was demoted to the Detroit bullpen in 2024 while accumulating a 6.09 ERA and 3-7 record.
After being DFA'd by the Tigers, Maeda signed with the Chicago Cubs and was pitching for their Triple-A Iowa affiliate. He was released by the Cubs this past weekend, according to MLB.com. In 12 starts with Iowa, Maeda registered a 6.12 ERA with 45 strikeouts in 57 1/3 innings.
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Maeda's signing with New York comes after the Yankees released veteran Marcus Stroman last week after he posted a 6.23 ERA in nine starts. The team added relievers David Bednar, Camilo Doval and Jake Bird (along with utilityman José Caballero) before Thursday's MLB trade deadline but did not acquire a starting pitcher.
The Yankees were moving forward with a starting rotation of Max Fried, Carlos Rodón and Luis Gil, with rookies Will Warren and Cam Schlittler at the back end. However, Gil looked very much like a work in progress on Sunday in his first start of the season after returning from a lat strain. Facing the Miami Marlins, the reigning AL Rookie of the Year gave up five runs on five hits and four walks.
That performance might have compelled the Yankees to bring in some additional depth as Gil essentially goes through a spring training type of preparation in August.
Maeda is in his ninth MLB season after pitching nine years for Hiroshima in the Japan Central League. He pitched four seasons for the Los Angeles Dodgers before being traded to the Minnesota Twins, with whom he finished second in AL Cy Young voting during the 2020 COVID-shortened season.
In his career, Maeda has a 4.20 ERA, averaging 9.6 strikeouts per nine innings, with a 68-56 record.
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