Dodgers agree to deal w/ Kente Maeda

[ctcf]

All the foreign player threads! Seriously though, this one is a much more realistic fit for the Cubs, especially with their expressed desire to add some quality pitching this offseason. For those of you who don't remember, he was almost posted last year but was ultimately retained by the Hiroshima Carp. He makes a ton of sense if the scouts like what they see as he will of course only cost money and depending on where the bidding ends up, offer a draft pick free alternative to a lot of the tier 2 pitchers out there.

 

 

And the rotoworld blurb with a nice stats summary:

 

According to FOX Sports' Jon Morosi, the Hiroshima Carp are likely to post Kenta Maeda this winter.

It hasn't happened yet because Maeda is currently pitching for Team Japan in the WSBC's Premier 12 tournament. The right-hander has expressed interest in leaving Nippon Professional Baseball for Major League Baseball each of the last three offseasons, but Hiroshima was previously reluctant to give him away. Maeda, now 27 years old, registred a 2.09 ERA, 1.01 WHIP, and 175/41 K/BB ratio in 206 1/3 innings this past year in the Central League. He had a 2.60 ERA in 2014, a 2.10 ERA in 2013, and a 1.53 ERA in 2012.

 

Lastly, his B-Ref page, as I had not realized they did the Japanese leagues as well. Pretty nifty: http://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.cgi?id=maeda-001ken

Edited December 31, 2015 by ctcf

[Cubswin11]

I can't remember from last offseason, but he profiles more as a middle of the rotation guy than a ACE/top of the rotation guy, right?

[ctcf]

I can't remember from last offseason, but he profiles more as a middle of the rotation guy than a ACE/top of the rotation guy, right?

 

I'd say that tends to be the general consensus. I referred to him as a tier two alternative above for such reasons. That said, it sounds like he could be a really good 3 with the outside possibility for being a 2 type guy. Depeding on the money, he's potentially a nice alternative to your Samardzija/Brett Anderson types.

[Cubswin11]

He has asked his team to post him

Japanese hurler Kenta Maeda has requested that his Japanese club, the Hiroshima Carp, make him available to major league organizations through the posting process, as Yasuko Yanagita of Hochi Shimbun first reported on Twitter....Hiroshima’s general manager Kiyoaki Suzuki said that Maeda’s “request might be granted,” indicating that he’d likely “decide on a course of action around the end of next week.”

[ctcf]

you know, given how things have shaken out, Maeda is starting to feel a lot more appealing to me

[Guest]

Yahoo Japan has a story that Maeda is getting posted.

[Cubswin11]

Soo.... Would we rather have Samardzija or Maeda for the roughly $100 million total investment it should take for each?

[davell]

I kind of doubt it'll take 100(even with the 20M fee) on Maeda. That said, depending on how fast the SP's start signing, I kind of hope we don't wait for him. The process takes 4-5 days(I think) and we don't know yet WHEN he's getting posted.

[ctcf]

Just in case you were worried

 

[Little Slide Rooter]

Lastly, his B-Ref page, as I had not realized they did the Japanese leagues as well. Pretty nifty: http://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.cgi?id=maeda-001ken

 

B-Ref has become baseball's IMDB. They've got pretty much every major, minor, international, and indie league you can think of.

[doublebubble]

my Mom is a huge Carp fan and she is really sad by this posting. I think her whole family would like nothing more then to see the Carp win the Japan Series, but after the Cubs resurgence last year and when we got Fukudome shes been a pretty big Cub fan. Nothing would alleviate the pain my family in Japan would feel more then to see him in blue pinstripes. Get it done Theo!

[ctcf]

well [expletive]

[Guest]

still don't want to give a guy who might be hendricks on steroids $100M+ without having seen him pitch a major league inning.

[seanimal]

what? hendricks on steroids sounds amazing

[davell]

Jack Magruder ‏@JackMagruder 2h2 hours ago

 

With Greinke in place, #Dbacks out on Maeda, source said. Many scouts/officials see him as fourth/fifth starter. Said to be seeking $60M.

[Cubswin11]

What's the word on him? Has anyone seen anything? Not that I expect us to be involved

[ctcf]

Haven't heard much. Kinda have to expect the Dodgers to be in on him given how the pitching market shook out for them. Didn't Jocketty say the Cardinals were going to focus on pitching as well?

[davell]

My guess is the Dodgers or Seattle. I saw somewhere he prefers the west coast anyway.

[Guest]

What's the word on him? Has anyone seen anything? Not that I expect us to be involved

 

funny you should ask. he landed in LA last night.

 

[CubInOK]

Haven't heard much. Kinda have to expect the Dodgers to be in on him given how the pitching market shook out for them. Didn't Jocketty say the Cardinals were going to focus on pitching as well?

I'm not sure Jocketty is the guy to talk to about the Cardinals. If you wanted to know what it would take to get Joey Votto, he's the guy to speak with.

[Guest]

ct what year do you think it is

[davell]

Jon Heyman ‏@JonHeymanCBS 1m1 minute ago

 

Hearing from a baseball source, kenta maeda and dodgers are in agreement. No word on $. @DfineNrmLC all over this one

[Cubswin11]

I like that the Dodgers are loading up on dong feeders for all of our dongsmiths

[Guest]

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[davell]

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Geez, I was coming to post that.