GOOD NEWS: Tigers sign veteran starter on a 2-year, $24M deal to bolster rotation

FILE – Minnesota Twins relief pitcher Kenta Maeda throws in the fourth inning of Game 1 of the American League Division Series against the Houston Astros on October 7, 2023, in Houston. A person familiar with the deal told The Associated Press that right-hander Maeda and the Detroit Tigers agreed to a $24 million, two-year contract. The individual spoke on the condition of anonymity on Sunday, November 26, 2023, because the agreement was contingent on a successful physical and had not yet been announced. Tony Gutierrez/AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez, File)

The Detroit Tigers have bolstered their starting rotation with the addition of a veteran pitcher.

On Sunday, right-hander Kenta Maeda agreed to terms with the Minnesota Twins on a two-year, $24 million contract. The contract is subject to a physical and has yet to be officially announced by the team. The agreement was first reported late Sunday by Jon Heyman of the New York Post.

Maeda, who will be 36 in April, moved to the United States in 2016 after a successful career in Japan. He played four seasons for the Los Angeles Dodgers before being dealt to the Minnesota Twins before the 2020 season.

Maeda was the Cy Young runner-up in the COVID-shortened 2020 season, but he suffered an elbow injury late in 2021 that required Tommy John surgery and forced him to miss the entire 2022 season.

In his first season back from the procedure, there were encouraging signs. Maeda pitched 104 1/3 innings and went 6-8 with a 4.23 ERA. He struck out 117 batters (27.3%) and walked only 28 (6.5%).

Maeda is the Tigers’ second major offseason acquisition after acquiring Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Mark Canha earlier this month.

The Tigers were looking for a veteran starter to supplement their young rotation and help replace the innings lost by Eduardo Rodriguez, who opted out of his final three years of contract at the end of the season.

The Tigers most likely hoped to sign Maeda to a one-year contract, but he agreed to a two-year extension. Maeda’s contract is the first multiyear deal offered by team president Scott Harris since taking over at the end of the 2022 season.

If the season began today, Maeada would most likely be the Tigers’ No. 2 starter, trailing lefty Tarik Skubal. The top candidates for the rotation would be right-handers Reese Olson, Matt Manning, and Casey Mize, with Alex Faedo, Joey Wentz, Beau Brieske, and Sawyer Gipson-Long providing depth in the bullpen or Triple-A Toledo.

When Maeda’s contract is finalized, the Tigers will have 38 players on their 40-man roster.

ROSTER OF THE TIGERS (38)

Tyler Holton, Tarik Skubal, and Joey Wentz are all left-handed pitchers.

Beau Brieske, Miguel Diaz, Mason Englert, Alex Faedo, Wilmer Flores, Jason Foley, Sawyer Gipson-Long, Alex Lange, Kenta Maeda, Matt Manning, Casey Mize, Keider Montero, Reese Olson, Will Vest, and Brendan White are the right-handed pitchers.

Dillon Dingler, Carson Kelly, Jake Rogers, and Donny Sands are the catchers.

Javier Báez, Andy Ibaez, Ryan Kreidler, Eddys Leonard, Andre Lipcius, Nick Maton, Zach McKinstry, Tyler Nevin, Wenceel Perez, and Spencer Torkelson are the infielders.

Akil Baddoo, Mark Canha, Kerry Carpenter, Riley Greene, Parker Meadows, and Matt Vierling are the outfielders.