Japanese pitcher Kenta Maeda looking for a contract with Red Sox or Yankees
Jorge Camargo
Contributing Writer
Last week, GM Ben Cherington told the media that looking for solid starting pitcher is a priority for the 2014 offseason, and since the team has been scouting Maeda for the last month, it seems that the Japanese is a fit for the 2015 team.
Boston Globe reporter Nick Cafardo has reported that Kenta Meada has told the Japanese media that as soon as he's posted by his club, he'd like to sign with the Red Sox or the Yankees. As I said before, the Red Sox have been scouting him since last month so it's almost certain that they will make a bid, but the contract won't be as big as the $155 million that Masahiro Tanaka has with the Yankees.
Kenta Maeda is 6 foot tall, 26 years old, weighs about 160 pounds and has an 87-93 mph velocity, even though he has trouble with his fastball. His best pitch is a slider in the low-80s. He ended this season with a 2.56 ERA, 11 wins, 8 losses and striking out an average of 7.7 batters per nine innings. In 2010, he won the Sawamura Award, which is the Japanese equivalent of the Cy Young. He also is the youngest Japanese pitcher to win the pitching Triple Crown and a Gold Glove on the same year.
What do you think of Maeda joining the 2015 starting rotation? Do you think he'd be a good fit for the clubhouse? Leave your comments below.
Click here to read more by Jorge Camargo.
Contributing Writer
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| Photo by Chung Sung-Jun. |
Boston Globe reporter Nick Cafardo has reported that Kenta Meada has told the Japanese media that as soon as he's posted by his club, he'd like to sign with the Red Sox or the Yankees. As I said before, the Red Sox have been scouting him since last month so it's almost certain that they will make a bid, but the contract won't be as big as the $155 million that Masahiro Tanaka has with the Yankees.
Kenta Maeda is 6 foot tall, 26 years old, weighs about 160 pounds and has an 87-93 mph velocity, even though he has trouble with his fastball. His best pitch is a slider in the low-80s. He ended this season with a 2.56 ERA, 11 wins, 8 losses and striking out an average of 7.7 batters per nine innings. In 2010, he won the Sawamura Award, which is the Japanese equivalent of the Cy Young. He also is the youngest Japanese pitcher to win the pitching Triple Crown and a Gold Glove on the same year.
What do you think of Maeda joining the 2015 starting rotation? Do you think he'd be a good fit for the clubhouse? Leave your comments below.
Click here to read more by Jorge Camargo.
