Dodgers fans have been complaining that it was a bad off season so far. But how can you call the off season bad if the Dodgers just signed Scott Kazmir and the news was spread that the team also lured in Kenta Maeda.
According several news websites, the Dodgers signed the Japanese star to an eight-year contract, but details about a contract are not known yet. The Dodgers even haven’t confirmed the news yet.
The Dodgers were one of the teams that paid the $20 million posting fee to the Hiroshima Toyo Carp to have the right to negotiate with Maeda.
Many sources say that Maeda is even better than Yu Darvish. He was 15-8 with a 2.09 ERA in 29 starts in 2015, winning his league’s version of the Cy Young Award. In eight seasons with Hiroshima, Maeda is 97-67 with a 2.39 ERA and 1.05 WHIP.
In an eight-year career in the NPB, Maeda posted a 97-67 record with a career ERA of 2.39 and a WHIP of 1.048.
According to C.J. Nitkowski it would make sense that Maeda will be used as long reliever:
But why would you use a pricey free agent as a long reliever?
The signing of Maeda may cause a luxury problem for the Dodgers if Hyun-Jin Ryu, also a left hander, will be healthy for the 2016 season. Then the team will be stuck with six viable starting pitchers.
Despite the comment of C.J. Nitkowski, it may be expected that the Dodgers will use Maeda as the only righty in a mainly left-handed rotation.
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