Chicago Cubs Bolster Rotation with Kenta Maeda
The Chicago Cubs have reached a minor league contract agreement with right-handed pitcher Kenta Maeda, giving him a fresh opportunity to regain his form.
Cubs manager Craig Counsell confirmed the agreement before Friday’s game against the White Sox.
Maeda, 37, had an ERA of 7.88 in seven relief appearances for Detroit before being assigned on May 1. In his first year with the Tigers, after agreeing to a two-year, $24 million contract in November 2023, he went 3-7 with a 6.09 ERA in 17 starts and 12 relief appearances.
I think he’s a player you have to have a constant conversation with, and see where we can make some adjustments and see where he’s at.
Craig Counsell
Maeda debuted in the Major Leagues with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2016, with a record of 16-11 and an ERA of 3.48 in 32 starts. In the 2020 season, shortened by the pandemic, he had a record of 6-1 with an ERA of 2.70 in 11 starts for Minnesota, finishing second in the voting for the American League Cy Young Award.
After missing the 2022 season due to Tommy John surgery, Maeda is 68-56 with a 4.20 ERA in 226 major league games, including 172 starts.
The Cubs, leaders of the National League Central Division, have three key starting pitchers on the injured list. Shota Imanaga is suffering from a slight strain in his left hamstring, and Javier Assad has an oblique issue. Justin Steele is out for the rest of the season due to an elbow injury.
Imanaga was injured during a 4-0 loss in Milwaukee on May 4. Counsell said the team wants to get through this weekend before mapping out a plan for Imanaga’s return.
For now, we keep pitching. He’s having a high day, a medium day, a low day pitching, but he keeps pitching every day in that kind of rotational cycle.
Craig Counsell
The Cubs are also playing without left fielder Ian Happ, who is on the 10-day injured list with a left oblique strain. The three-time Gold Glove winner was injured on a swing last week.
“I think tomorrow is a more important day to see where we’re at with Ian, because obviously we have to progress towards hitting if we’re talking about activating him on Tuesday,” Counsell said.
