Yankees Snatch Kenta Maeda After Cubs Release: Could This Be a Game-Changer?

In a move that’s caught my eye, the New York Yankees are bolstering their pitching arsenal by signing veteran right-hander Kenta Maeda to a minor-league deal. This isn’t just any signing—Maeda, once a formidable force on the mound, has been bouncing around this season after being designated for assignment by the Detroit Tigers and recently released by the Chicago Cubs’ Triple-A affiliate. At 37, his journey has seen ups and downs, but the Yankees are clearly looking to tap into his wealth of experience as they navigate a rotation in flux.

It’s intriguing to see the Yanks make this move after releasing Marcus Stroman last week and yet choosing not to acquire a starting pitcher at the trade deadline. The current rotation features Max Fried, Carlos Rodón, and Luis Gil, with a couple of rookies filling the back end. However, Gil’s recent return from a lat strain showed signs of rust that might have tipped the scales in favor of adding Maeda’s depth.

Maeda’s track record includes a near Cy Young finish with Minnesota in 2020 and over a decade of pro experience between Japan and the MLB. Sure, his recent stats might not jump off the page, but veteran presence can often be the X-factor in tight pennant races. It’s a calculated gamble by the Yankees, and I’m keen to see if Maeda can recapture even a hint of that form.

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Seeking to add potential starting pitching depth, the New York Yankees have reportedly signed Kenta Maeda to a minor-league contract.

Maeda and the Yankees were in discussions on a possible deal, the New York Post’s Jon Heyman reports. Independent journalist Yuki Yamada followed up with a report that the two sides agreed to a contract.

The right-hander, 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. Maeda signed a two-year, $24 million contract with the Tigers before the 2024 season. But he’d been demoted to the bullpen during the 2024 season while accumulating a 6.09 ERA and 3-7 record.

Maeda had signed with the Chicago Cubs and was pitching for their Triple-A Iowa affiliate. But 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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Signing Maeda 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 to 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 in his first start of the season on Sunday after returning from a lat strain. Facing the Miami Marlins, last year’s AL Rookie of the Year gave up five runs on five hits and four walks.

That performance may 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 Award voting during the 2020 COVID-shortened season. For his career, Maeda has a 4.20 ERA, averaging 9.6 strikeouts per nine innings with a 68-56 record.