With the Los Angeles Dodgers among the teams who were in search of starting pitching over the offseason, they were expected by many to have interest in — if not be the frontrunners for — Japanese right-hander Kenta Maeda.
That expectation grew when Zack Greinke signed a six-year, $206.5 million contract with the Arizona Diamondbacks in a stunning turn of events. Los Angeles indeed posted the winning bid, though eventually signed Maeda for much less than he was projected to command.
Explanation for Maeda’s eight-year, $25 million contract that’s loaded with incentives came during the introductory press conference when he confirmed “irregularities” in his right elbow cropped up during a physical.
Health concerns were added questions as to whether Maeda would successfully make the transition from Nippon Professional Baseball to the Majors.
If his first two starts with the Dodgers are any indication, 27 year old will manage just fine in his new surroundings. However, after throwing three scoreless innings against the Oakland Athletics, Maeda said he isn’t focusing on Spring Training results, per Mike DiGiovanna of the LA Times:
“It gives me a little bit of confidence, but I’m aware that it’s still spring training and not the regular season,” said Maeda, who signed an incentive-laden, eight-year, $25-million deal. “I know during the regular season there will be a few bumps along the way. So I’m not too concerned with the results right now.”
Maeda has thrown a combined five shutout innings, with three hits allowed, two walks and five strikeouts. He was credited with his first win on Thursday, and showed no ill-effects of pitching on four days’ rest.
As he did in Japan, Maeda hasn’t overpowered batters, but instead relied his assortment of pitches and command to keep them off balance. Dodgers catcher Yasmani Grandal previously compared Maeda to Greinke, citing both right-hander’s use of a four-pitch mix.
With their starting rotation in a bit of a disarray, Maeda quickly getting acclimated to life as a Major League pitcher is certainly a welcomed sight.
