Needing to address a final void in their starting rotation the Los Angeles Dodgers signed Kenta Maeda out of Japan. Los Angeles paid the $20 million posting fee to Hiroshima Carp, then inked Maeda to an eight-year, $25 million deal.
The length and value of the contract were both a surprise, though it includes several incentives. Maeda revealed during his introductory press conference terms of the contract were such due to “irregularities” an MRI revealed in his right elbow.
Maeda and Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman both downplayed any concern over the matter.