Tigers Make Bold Move: Kenta Maeda Designated for Assignment – What It Means for the Team

The Detroit Tigers have designated right-hander Kenta Maeda for assignment, making room for Tyler Owens to join the active roster. This decision was reported by Jon Morosi of MLB.com before the official announcement.

Maeda joined the Tigers in late 2023 with a two-year contract worth $24 million. At the time, this move seemed reasonable. Maeda had faced challenges in previous seasons, posting a 4.66 ERA in 2021 and spending the entire 2022 recovering from elbow surgery. He returned in 2023, pitching 104 innings but finished with a 4.23 ERA.

Interestingly, Maeda’s season had a rocky start. He struggled early on, landing on the injured list in April with a 9.00 ERA. However, after returning in June, he managed a turnaround, recording a 3.36 ERA over the remaining innings, showing a strong strikeout rate of 29%.

Despite this, 2024 has not been kind to Maeda. He began the season poorly, accumulating a 7.88 ERA over just eight innings. His strikeout rate dropped to 18.6%, raising concerns about his performance. Manager A.J. Hinch has shown hesitation in using him, limiting him to only a few appearances in April.

The Tigers face a tough choice now. Generally, teams prefer to hold onto players they’ve invested in, but Maeda’s struggles are evident. He’s set to earn $10 million this year, with about $8 million left on his deal. If the Tigers opt to release him, he could decline an outright assignment, choosing instead to become a free agent while retaining his contract’s full value.

If he becomes a free agent, teams would only pay him a prorated minimum salary, which could attract clubs desperate for pitching depth, especially as injuries rise.

Meanwhile, Owens, 24, steps up for his MLB debut. After being drafted by Atlanta, he has bounced around in trades but found success as a reliever, finishing last season with a 2.96 ERA in Double-A. However, his performance in Triple-A has dipped, raising questions about his readiness to make an impact.

In summary, Maeda’s journey with the Tigers is a lesson in the unpredictability of sports. As teams reassess their strategies, the focus now shifts to how Owens will fare in his new role and the potential future for Maeda on the free-agent market.

For more insights on player trades and MLB news, check out the latest reports on MLB.com.

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