It’s true that the Dodgers need pitching help, and they are adept at turning coal into diamonds, but it doesn’t mean they should trade with the Tigers for Kenta Maeda or take him off the waiver wire.
The Tigers will have to forgo the $10 million they owe Maeda this season after he was DFA’d on Thursday. After making 16 starts the previous season, he was moved to their bullpen due to his 7.26 ERA and lackluster performance as a reliever. When he competed for the final two rotation places in spring training, the Tigers gave him the benefit of the doubt, but he ultimately returned to the bullpen.
With a 7.88 ERA in eight innings, Maeda has been silent about leaving the Tigers this season and has been handed the ball the least out of all the bullpen pitchers.
Naturally, Maeda spent four seasons with the Dodgers and produced some quality work, but let’s not forget that he was demoted to the bullpen in his last season in Los Angeles due to performance concerns. Maeda shouldn’t be the next player the Dodgers need to add to their rotation.
Dodgers need to steer clear of former LA starter Kenta Maeda after Tigers DFA’ed him
It was a dubious move for the Tigers to sign Maeda in the first place. In the 2020 Cy Young vote, he came in second, although it was in 2020. After having Tommy John surgery, he missed the entire 2022 season and has since had a 5.08 ERA. After peaking at 112 1/3 innings the previous season before being demoted by the Tigers, he hasn’t even been an especially respectable innings-eater since.
The Dodgers’ ability to spot an opportunity in Maeda would be quite typical. There are still no solutions for Blake Snell and Tyler Glasnow, and they only have four starters instead of the ideal six. They will also need to be cautious with Clayton Kershaw, who is scheduled to return in a few weeks. They may attempt to cure Maeda, welcome him back, and gamble.
However, the pitching instructors for the Tigers are also gaining a solid reputation. Detroit’s rotation may be among the best in baseball, and Chris Fetter has transformed the bullpen. The Dodgers’ belief that they could cure Maeda might be a fatal act of hubris if they are unable to do it. particularly if they are unable to maintain starters’ current level of health.
