#kenta-maeda

#kenta-maeda

The Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles of Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball announced they've signed Kenta Maeda. The 37-year-old righty said in August that he planned to return to his home country next year. A report from Japan's Sankei Sports indicates he signed a two-year contract. This will all but officially close the book on Maeda's career in the major leagues. He pitched in nine MLB seasons, turning in a 4.20 earned run average while coming up a little shy of 1000 innings pitched.

Former Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Kenta Maeda announced on social media that he is going to resume his playing career in Japan for the 2026 season. The right-hander began his professional career with Hiroshima Toyo Carp of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB), where he established himself as one of the best pitchers in the country. Maeda went 97-67 with a 2.39 ERA and 1.05 WHIP in 1,509.2 innings across 218 appearances (217 starts) during his stint with Hiroshima.

The Yomiuri Giants of Nippon Professional Baseball have interest in acquiring veteran right-hander Kenta Maeda, according to a report from Yahoo Sports Japan. Maeda, 37, indicated back in August that he plans to leave MLB and return to Japan for the 2026 season, where he hopes to find a role in NPB. The veteran's decision to leave MLB behind isn't exactly a surprise given how difficult the past two seasons have been for him.

In an appearance on TV Tokyo's "Sports Real Live" show (Japanese language link from Yahoo Japan), Kenta Maeda said that he is leaving North American baseball behind at the conclusion of the 2025 season. Maeda revealed that he initially made his decision after signing his two-year, $24MM deal with the Tigers that that would be his final contract with a Major League team, and he is hoping to continue his career in Japan with a Nippon Professional Baseball club in 2026.

The New York Yankees inked a minor league deal with 37-year-old right-hander Kenta Maeda to address their need for starting pitching help, with Maeda having had nine seasons in MLB and starting 2025 in the bullpen.