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Dodgers turn their attention to Kenta Maeda

By Steven McNeil

March 17, 2013; San Francisco, CA, USA; Japan starting pitcher Kenta Maeda (20) delivers a pitch during the first inning of the World Baseball Classic semifinal against the Puerto Rico at AT&T Park. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
March 17, 2013; San Francisco, CA, USA; Japan starting pitcher Kenta Maeda (20) delivers a pitch during the first inning of the World Baseball Classic semifinal against the Puerto Rico at AT&T Park. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports /
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Now that the Dodgers have lost out on another free agent starting pitcher, they have turned their attention to the international market.

As I mentioned earlier today, with the Dodgers losing Hisashi Iwakuma, and the Mike Leake signing in St. Louis, the Dodgers have reportedly turned their interest to landing the Japanese right hander Kenta Maeda. Fox Sports’ Jon Morosi reported that the Dodgers are currently “in contact with Maeda’s representatives.”

The Dodgers have a big need for a starting pitcher after losing Zack Greinke to the rival Diamondbacks, and with the questions surrounding Hyin-Jin Ryu’s shoulder. However, somewhat surprisingly the Dodgers have not shown real interest in any of the pitchers that were remaining after the loss of Greinke, which makes a Maeda signing even more a possibility.

A Dodgers and Kenta Maeda signing sounds like a match made in heaven. The Dodgers are extremely familiar with the international market and have a need for pitching to go alongside Clayton Kershaw, as currently the Dodgers are on the outside looking in, in regards to the NL West.

The Giants and Diamondbacks have both leapfrogged the reigning division champions in terms of the current favorite to win in 2016.

While pitching is not the only concern the Dodgers have for 2016, it is imperative that they pursue Maeda, and according to Jon Morosi the price shouldn’t scare the Dodgers away.

"“The Dodgers should be impervious to such concerns. They established two major-league spending records in 2015, according to the Associated Press: a $291 million payroll and almost $43.6 million in luxury tax payments.”"

Morosi also mentioned that Maeda is viewed as being comparable to the ability of Mike Leake, despite his ERA only being above 3.00 twice with the Hiroshima Carp. With that said, I would think that any deal with Maeda would likely be $1oo Million or less, especially considering that the $20 Million posting fee is added on to the contract.

Next: 10 MLB free agent signings that NEED to happen

This move has to be the move the Dodgers have had up their sleeve throughout the offseason, as they cannot afford to all of a sudden go into shutdown mode with their competitors getting better and the NL getting better as a whole. So, I would expect the Dodgers to land Maeda to firm up that rotation.

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