The New York Yankees are reportedly in discussions to sign veteran pitcher Kenta Maeda to a minor league deal. With their rotation plagued by injuries to Gerrit Cole, Clarke Schmidt, and others, Maeda could provide much-needed depth. After a rough start to 2025 with the Tigers and a stint in Triple-A with the Cubs, Maeda has shown signs of improvement in recent starts. In this video, we break down his recent performance, the Yankees’ pitching crisis, and what this move could mean for the rest of the season. Could this be the comeback opportunity Maeda needs, or just a short-term depth play?
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Kenta Maeda’s name is back in the headlines, and this time, it’s the New York Yankees who might be giving him his next shot. According to reports, the Yankees are in active discussions to bring the veteran right-hander into their system. The potential deal would be a minor league contract, meaning Maeda would likely start out with the Yankees’ Triple-A affiliate before possibly making his way back to the big leagues.
So why is New York interested in Maeda right now? The Yankees’ pitching depth has been decimated by injuries. Gerrit Cole and Clarke Schmidt are both out for the year after Tommy John surgery. Ryan Yarbrough is sidelined. Luis Gil recently tried to return but struggled. Will Warren and Cam Schlittler are in the rotation, but both have ERAs hovering around the mid-four range. In short, the Yankees need arms, and they need them fast.
Maeda’s 2025 season has been a rough ride. He began the year with the Detroit Tigers, where he signed a two-year, twenty-four million dollar deal before the 2024 season. Unfortunately, his performance fell far short of expectations. In 2024, he posted a career-worst six point zero nine ERA over one hundred and twelve innings, eventually being moved to the bullpen. In 2025, his struggles continued with a seven point eight eight ERA in just eight innings before the Tigers designated him for assignment on May first. He was officially released on May seventh.
After clearing waivers, Maeda joined the Chicago Cubs’ Triple-A affiliate in Iowa. Over twelve starts and fifty-seven and a third innings, he recorded a five point nine seven ERA with an eighteen point one percent strikeout rate and a ten percent walk rate. But while the overall numbers were poor, there’s been a glimmer of hope lately. In his last nine starts, Maeda’s ERA dropped to three point five five, with strikeouts rising to twenty percent and walks coming down to eight point eight percent. Even more encouraging, in his most recent three outings, he’s logged a three point one eight ERA with a twenty-seven point five percent strikeout rate and just a five point eight percent walk rate.
For the Yankees, this could be a classic low-risk, potentially high-reward move. Since Detroit is still responsible for the bulk of Maeda’s contract, New York would only need to pay a prorated league-minimum salary if he joins the major league roster. If Maeda continues his recent improvements in Triple-A, he could be a valuable depth option as either a spot starter or injury replacement down the stretch.
Fan reaction, however, has been mixed. Many see this as a desperate depth move rather than a serious solution for the rotation. Supporters of the idea point out that a minor league deal costs the Yankees almost nothing and could provide emergency coverage if more injuries hit. Critics argue that Maeda’s recent track record suggests his days as a reliable starter may be over.
Still, for a Yankees team clinging to postseason hopes while battling a battered rotation, adding a veteran with big-game experience might be worth the gamble. Maeda has shown flashes of his old self in recent weeks, and if he can carry that momentum into the Yankees’ system, he might just find a way back onto a major league mound before the season ends.
Whether this ends up being a quiet depth move or a surprising comeback story remains to be seen, but one thing is certain—Kenta Maeda’s journey in 2025 isn’t over yet, and the Yankees could be the team to write his next chapter.
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