Up to Wednesday when the Los Angeles Dodgers announced the signing of Scott Kazmir to a three-year, $48 million contract, the club had largely been left on the outside looking in as it pertained to free-agent starting pitchers.
Los Angeles was in a bidding war with the San Francisco Giants for Zack Greinke before the Arizona Diamondbacks stole the right-hander with a six-year, $206.5 million contract.
Then Jeff Samardzija and Johnny Cueto, whom the Dodgers were linked to, both signed with the Giants.
Still open to adding another starting pitcher even with Kazmir in the fold, the Dodgers reportedly agreed to terms with Japanese right-hander Kenta Maeda on Thursday.
The Hiroshima Carp posted the 27 year old for the maximum $20 million release fee on Dec. 10.
While a deal was said to be in place, Bill Shaikin of the LA Times reported that’s not yet the case:
Source: #Dodgers deal with Kenta Maeda is close, but not finalized.
— Bill Shaikin (@BillShaikin) January 1, 2016
Additionally, Maeda’s contract is expected to be for at least five years and include performance bonuses, per Joel Sherman of the New York Post:
Told Maeda agreement with #Dodgers is complicated and at least 5 yrs, and loaded with performance bonuses.
— Joel Sherman (@Joelsherman1) December 31, 2015
Maeda went 15-8 with a 2.09 ERA in 29 starts last season. He won the Sawamura Award, which is the Japanese equivalent to Major League Baseball’s Cy Young. In eight seasons with Hiroshima, Maeda is 97-67 with a 2.39 ERA and 1.05 WHIP.
The righty projects as a mid-rotation starter in the Majors with a strong curveball and changeup, and someone who relies on command to get hitters out.
Should the contract with Maeda be made official, the Dodgers will have six starting pitchers. The surplus could make someone like Alex Wood expendable, though the depth may very well be needed. Injuries last season forced Los Angeles to use 16 different starters.
