Kenta Maeda will be introduced by the Los Angeles Dodgers at 4 p.m. ET.
The two sides agreed to an eight-year contract a week ago, but were hammering out some specifics before making the official announcement.
Maeda, 27, will begin his MLB career in 2016 after spending eight seasons in the Japan Central League with the Hiroshima Carp. The right-hander is 97-67 with a 2.39 ERA, 1.01 WHIP and 175 strikeouts in 218 career games (217 starts) in Japan.
Today the #Dodgers announced the signing of right-handed pitcher Kenta Maeda to an eight-year contract.
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) January 7, 2016
前田健太投手 マエケンドジャースにようこそ！ pic.twitter.com/L0gxp3cFkI
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) January 7, 2016
Rumors suggested the official announcement took a bit of time due to the Dodgers' concern over Maeda's pitching elbow, according to Joel Sherman of the New York Post. The team has yet to announce the financial terms of the contract, which they'll probably do shortly, but the deal will reportedly guarantee Maeda $25 million over eight years in addition to a potential $10 million in incentives each year. Sherman says the right-hander has the opportunity to make $13 million annually.
Los Angeles will also pay the Hiroshima Carp $20 million for Maeda's release fee.
The signing of Maeda came shortly after the Dodgers inked left-hander Scott Kazmir to a three-year, $48 million deal. The addition of Kazmir left Los Angeles with five left-handers in their rotation (Clayton Kershaw, Brett Anderson, Alex Wood and Hyun-Jin Ryu). The team lost Zack Greinke in free agency to the Arizona Diamondbacks and will not get right-hander Brandon McCarthy back until the middle of 2016 as he recovers from Tommy John surgery.
Los Angeles seems to believe Maeda could be a solid MLB pitcher if his health holds up. However, his frame (6-foot, 154 lbs.) and delivery have evaluators concerned about his long-term health. Nonetheless, Maeda has made at least 26 starts and averaged almost 200 innings per season since 2009.
The Dodgers now have a surplus of starting pitchers and perhaps have other moves in mind before the 2016 season begins.
