Kenta Maeda spent the entire spring chasing something he used to own without question—a spot in the Detroit Tigers starting rotation. Every pitch, every strikeout, and every moment on the mound was another attempt to prove that last season’s struggles were behind him. But baseball can be unforgiving. Despite flashing his signature command and racking up an eye-popping 19:1 strikeout-to-walk ratio, Maeda couldn’t escape one glaring issue: hitters were still squaring him up. The home runs, the extra-base hits, the runs that kept creeping onto the scoreboard—they all piled up. And in the end, they cost him.
On Friday, manager A.J. Hinch delivered the news: Maeda would start the 2025 season in the bullpen, officially eliminating him from the race for the final two rotation spots. It’s a stunning turn for a pitcher who once thrived as a frontline starter; a veteran signed for $24 million to help anchor this staff. That battle now appears to belong to Casey Mize and Jackson Jobe, two young arms the Detroit Tigers hope will define its future. Maeda, meanwhile, becomes the odd man out, left to wonder where he fits in a team that is evolving without him.
At first, Maeda’s spring numbers looked strong. In 12 2/3 innings, he struck out 19 batters while issuing just one walk. His strikeout-to-walk ratio is elite; opponents still find ways to hurt him. He surrendered 13 hits—four of them leaving the yard—leading to eight earned runs. Despite flashes of his old brilliance, the Tigers couldn’t ignore the damage.
Kenta Maeda heads back to the bullpen as the #Tigers firm up their rotation plans:https://t.co/g6O7ksibVq pic.twitter.com/1KcHHxrPwu
— MLB Trade Rumors (@mlbtraderumors) March 22, 2025
Compare that to Mize, who has been lights-out with 18 strikeouts in 16 innings while allowing just two runs. Even Jobe, though inconsistent, has shown enough upside to warrant a long look. For Detroit, this isn’t just about 2025. It’s about the long-term vision.
This isn’t the first time Maeda has found himself in limbo. The Tigers signed him to a two-year, $24 million deal, hoping for a veteran anchor in the rotation. Instead, he struggled in 2024, lost his starting job midseason, and wasn’t even trusted enough to be on the postseason roster.
Hinch has made it clear Maeda won’t be stuck in mop-up duty, but the reality is harsh—he’s no longer a frontline starter. Can he reinvent himself as a valuable bullpen weapon? Or is this the beginning of the end for the former ace? One thing is certain: the Tigers are moving forward; the only question now is whether Maeda can find a way to keep up.
What this means for Maeda: reinventing his role in Tigers
Kenta Maeda’s career has been built on adaptability, but this latest challenge might be his toughest yet. The Tigers have made it clear: they see more value in their younger arms, leaving Maeda to reinvent himself in the bullpen. While it’s a role he’s handled before, it’s far from guaranteed that he’ll get meaningful innings. In Detroit’s lineup of late-game pitchers, Jason Foley and John Brebbia, alongside Tommy Kahnle, have already established their presence.
Therefore, Maeda will need to show his worth in critical situations initially before gaining trust. If he can show improvement in handling home run challenges that troubled him last year, Maeda may secure a role in pitching multiple innings to connect the starting rotation with the backend of the bullpen. But if he struggles, his future in Detroit—and the majors—becomes murky. A midseason DFA isn’t out of the question if the Tigers decide they need fresher arms, and his $24 million contract won’t make him easy to trade.
At 36, Maeda is at a crossroads. He has the experience and command to thrive in relief, but whether he gets the opportunity to prove it depends on how quickly he adjusts. In the end, this season isn’t just about a new role; it’s about proving he still belongs in Major League Baseball.
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