Tigers might need to rip band-aid off and DFA Kenta Maeda after 2024 season

After 23 games of Kenta Maeda, Detroit Tigers fans have seen more than enough. The veteran right-hander has to go.

Pitching in bulk relief for opener Tyler Holton, Maeda took the loss for the Tigers in Thursday's series finale against the Chicago Cubs. He allowed six runs on nine hits and two walks across five innings while striking out five.

It didn't take long for the wheels to fall off, as Maeda gave up a grand slam to Miguel Amaya in the second frame and surrendered a pair of doubles later in the outing. That's bad on its own. But to put into perspective just how bad it is, keep in mind that Amaya is slashing 221/.277/.333 with six home runs in 275 plate appearances this year.

Thursday's loss also marked the fifth time in 23 games this season that Maeda has allowed six or more earned runs in a single outing. He only had seven such games in 190 career outings before this year. Again, bad.

Tigers might need to rip band-aid off and DFA Kenta Maeda after 2024 season

The Tigers signed the 36-year-old Maeda to a two-year deal worth $24 million this past winter. Since the start of July, Maeda has stumbled to an abysmal 7.60 ERA with a 31:8 strikeout-to-walk ratio across 36 innings. Maeda's struggles with the Tigers came early and often, prompting the team to move him from the starting rotation to the bullpen. While the initial hope was that he could one day rejoin the Tigers' starting rotation before the end of the season, that hope has effectively been eliminated.

Though he may follow an opener again, Maeda is tentatively scheduled to pitch against the Los Angeles Angels early next week. Moving Maeda into a bulk reliever role simply delays the inevitable, allowing him to derail the game in the middle innings rather than at the beginning of the game.

Maeda's contract has turned into a serious dilemma for the Tigers without an obvious solution, at least until the season is over. Admittedly, the Tigers in a rough spot now with an injury-depleted pitching staff that has temporarily left them with a starting rotation of two (not including Maeda). Looking ahead to 2025, however, the future is much brighter with Casey Mize and Reese Olson set to rejoin the Tigers' starting rotation on a permanent basis.

After the conclusion of the 2024 season, Detroit's first order of business should be to cut ties and eat the remaining year of Maeda's contract. Losing $12 million is far from ideal for the Tigers, but it may be worth it as it will save them a lot of heartache – and earned runs – in 2025.

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