Once they failed to re-sign Zack Greinke or add the likes of a Johnny Cueto, David Price, Jordan Zimmermann, or another frontline starter, the Los Angeles Dodgers addressed their starting pitching need by signing Scott Kazmir and Kenta Maeda.
Maeda was the more intriguing of the two, as he was making the transition to Major League Baseball after eight seasons pitching for the Hiroshima Carp in Japan. The Dodgers paid the $20 million posting fee for the right to negotiate with the right-hander.
Maeda signed an eight-year, $25 million contract, which fell well below expected terms. The relatively low guarantee was tied to irregularities coming to light in a physical Maeda took.
The Dodgers downplayed any concern over Maeda’s elbow, and he thus far has remained healthy; even shaking off two comebackers (one hitting Maeda on his throwing hand and the other on his right shin).
Now at the All-Star break of his first season in the Majors, Maeda provided an assessment of his experience, via ESPN’s Doug Padilla:
“I’ve been able to experience both a good stretch and a bad stretch, so I think it was, overall, a very productive half-season,” Maeda said through an interpreter.
Maeda threw seven innings of one-run ball against the San Diego Padres on Sunday and set a career high with 13 strikeouts. He became the first Dodgers starting pitcher not named Clayton Kershaw to throw seven innings in a single outing since May 14.
In addition, Maeda surpassed 100 innings pitched on the year, which triggered a $250,000 bonus. It was reported his eight-year contract includes bonuses that can bring the actual value closer to $100 million over the lifetime of the deal.
Maeda on the season is 8-6 with a 2.95 ERA, with his value skyrocketing as the Dodgers’ rotation was ravaged by injuries. After struggling throughout May, he bounced back over seven starts across June and July.
