"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."
"Maeda (who turns 38 in April) began his pro career with eight seasons with the Hiroshima Carp before being posted for MLB clubs, and signing an incentive-heavy eight-year, $25MM deal with the Dodgers back in January 2016. Maeda's stint in North America has seen him suit up in nine Major League seasons - he missed the 2022 campaign recovering from a Tommy John surgery, and he has yet to see any big league action during a 2025 season spent entirely in the minors."
Kenta Maeda will leave North American baseball after the 2025 season and aims to join Nippon Professional Baseball in 2026. He made the decision when signing a two-year, $24MM deal with the Tigers, expecting it to be his final Major League contract. Maeda began his career with eight seasons for the Hiroshima Carp and signed an incentive-heavy eight-year, $25MM Dodgers contract in 2016. He has appeared in nine MLB seasons, missed 2022 for Tommy John recovery, and spent 2025 entirely in the minors while posting a 6.25 ERA over 76 1/3 Triple-A innings. His family lived in Japan for stability during 2025, and recent results did not drive his decision to return to Japan.
Read at MLB Trade Rumors
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