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Japanese ace Kenta Maeda an intriguing option for many MLB teams (Big League Stew)

We can add Kenta Maeda to the list of available free agent starting pitchers after the Hiroshima Carp finally agreed to post the 27-year-old right-hander.

Maeda had asked the Carp to allow him to explore major-league opportunities as far back as two years ago, but until now they had declined to do so.

A two-time Sawamura Award as Japan's top pitcher, Maeda went 15-8 with a 2.09 ERA in 2015 for Hiroshima and impressed scouts while pitching for Japan at the recent Premier 12 tournament.

Now that Maeda, ranked 21st in Jeff Passan's Ultimate Free-Agent Tracker, is on the market, there are sure to be a number of MLB teams that are intrigued enough by his talent to make a bid.