The 37-year-old right-hander is headed back to Japan to conclude his playing days.
I’ve decided to continue my career in Japan starting next season. Playing baseball in the United States from 2016 to 2025 has been a dream come true and a decade full of unforgettable moments for which I’m deeply grateful. I’m incredibly thankful for all the amazing teammates, staff, and fans I’ve met along the way, and those connections mean the world to me.
From the very first day, everyone welcomed me and my family with such kindness, helped us when we needed it, and supported me every step of the way. Winning a division title, celebrating with champagne, competing in the postseason, and reaching the World Series — those memories will stay with me forever.
To all the fans, thank you for your incredible support. The energy in the ballpark, especially during the playoffs and the World Series, was truly unmatched. The standing ovation after escaping a tough jam remains one of the greatest moments of my baseball career. My time in MLB and in the United States has taught me countless lessons, helping me grow not just as a player but as a person.
As I begin a new chapter in Japan next season, I look forward to the day our paths cross again!
Thank you all, from the bottom of my heart.
Maeda signed a two-year, $24 million deal with Detroit before the 2024 season and began the year in the starting rotation. But he was bounced to the bullpen last July after months of inconsistency.
He appeared in just seven games for the Tigers in 2025 before being released, posting a 7.88 ERA over eight innings with six walks, eight strikeouts, three hit batters and two wild pitches.
After the Tigers parted ways, Maeda signed a minor-league deal with the Chicago Cubs in May and pitched well for Triple-A Iowa after a slow start. Following his release, he signed another minor-league deal with the New York Yankees last month, but never reached the big leagues.
His final MLB appearance came on April 29, when he threw a scoreless inning at Houston.
Maeda came to the United States in 2016 after a successful tenure in Japan. He spent four seasons with the Los Angeles Dodgers before being traded to the Minnesota Twins after the 2019 season.
He was the Cy Young runner-up in the shortened 2020 season but underwent Tommy John surgery in late 2021 that sidelined him for all of 2022. His 2023 return was encouraging: he went 6–8 with a 4.23 ERA in 104 1/3 innings, striking out 117 (27.3 percent) and walking 28 (6.5 percent).
That showing convinced the Tigers to sign him to a two-year contract, the first multiyear deal awarded by president of baseball operations Scott Harris, who took over at the end of the 2022 season.
Although Maeda struggled as a starter in 2024, he performed better in relief, posting a 3.86 ERA in 12 appearances out of the bullpen. He struck out 41 and walked just seven over 42 innings, offering some hope that his career could still be revived in 2025.
After the season, Maeda overhauled his usual winter training routine, starting earlier and throwing harder than he had in years. He arrived at camp with eight bullpen sessions already completed, and his velocity and pitch shapes were in regular-season form.
He fared well in spring training, striking out 19 and walking one over 12 2/3 innings in Grapefruit League games, but it wasn’t enough to beat out a strong spring from Casey Mize, who won a spot in the starting rotation, and top prospect Jackson Jobe, whom the Tigers were eager to give a big-league opportunity.
Maeda never got on track out of the bullpen in 2025 and as his struggles mounted, there were fewer situations in which he could be safely used.
Maeda finishes his MLB career with a 68-56 record and 4.20 ERA in 986 innings. He struck out 1,055.
Only two Japanese pitchers have more strikeouts in MLB history: Yu Darvish (2,075) and Hideo Nomo (1,918).
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Evan Woodbery has covered the Detroit Tigers and Major League Baseball for MLive.com since 2016. He has previously covered the Saints/NFL for The Times-Picayune/NOLA.com; University of Tennessee athletics for…
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