As the Los Angeles Dodgers continue to pick of the pieces following their horrid start to the MLB offseason, the latest rumors find the team is still interested in Japanese starter Kenta Maeda, who was posted by the Hiroshima Carp earlier this month.
Last week it was noted the Dodgers could make a run at the right-hander, but a few reports from FOX Sports' Jon Morosi on Tuesday further strengthen that notion.
Kenta Maeda's signing deadline is two weeks from Friday, on Jan. 8 at 5pm. He was posted by Hiroshima Toyo Carp on Dec 10. @FOXSports
— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) December 22, 2015
Sources: #Dodgers interested in Kenta Maeda and maintaining contact with his representatives ahead of Jan. 8 deadline. @FOXSports
— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) December 22, 2015
#Dodgers well positioned to pursue Maeda, because portion of $20MM posting fee required up front. And liquidity is not an issue for Dodgers.
— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) December 22, 2015
The Carp set Maeda's release fee at $20 million, which is the maximum bid for an international player that is still under contract. Teams who wish to negotiate with Maeda must submit the $20 million bid and then work out a contract within 30 days of his posting date (the deadline is Jan. 8 at 5 p.m. ET). If Maeda does not agree to a deal within that window, he will return to the Carp and every team will get back their $20 million bid.
Los Angeles is seemingly approaching this in an aggressive manner, as the club reportedly met with him last week and is continuing to stay in touch with his camp.
"The Dodgers are one of presumably many teams that will visit with Japanese pitcher Kenta Maeda, who should draw the $20 million posting fee from multiple teams before picking a club," Jon Heyman of CBS Sports added late last week. "He is described as a solid mid-range starter by a couple scouts."
Maeda, 27, has spent eight seasons in the Japan Central League and has amassed a 97-67 record with a 2.39 ERA, 1.05 WHIP and 1,233 strikeouts in 218 games (1,509 2/3 innings). If the Dodgers can land him, it'd be a good rebound after the team lost out on Hisashi Iwakuma. The Dodgers were wary about something in his medical reports and called off the three-year, $45 million deal.
Los Angeles is also involved in trade rumors surrounding Miami Marlins starter Jose Fernandez, but it's unclear if the two clubs match up for a potential blockbuster deal. Maeda is seemingly the team's priority at the moment since they're likely competing with other teams with the deadline 17 days away.
