The Detroit Tigers are tied atop the American League with the Toronto Blue Jays, with each club leading their respective division. While the Tigers don’t have tough competition, the Blue Jays do.
One of the top contenders in the AL, the New York Yankees, is reeling after a sweep against the Miami Marlins. Coming off such a rough series, the Yankees are reportedly looking to improve their pitching staff.
According to Jon Heyman of The New York Post, the Yankees are in talks to sign former Tigers pitcher Kenta Maeda to a contract. He spent time in Detroit over the last two seasons, but earlier in May of 2025, he was released after his rough start to the year.
Yankees are talking to Kenta Maeda about a possible deal
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) August 4, 2025
In seven games this season in Detroit, the 37-year-old right-handed pitcher had a 7.88 ERA, eight strikeouts, three hit batters, six walks, and nine hits allowed in just eight innings pitched. He managed a 54 ERA+ in those seven outings, the lowest of his career.
His second-lowest season just so happens to be his previous year in Detroit in 2024. Maeda had a 6.09 ERA in 29 games, with 17 starts and across 112.1 innings. During his first season in Detroit, Maeda put up a 68 ERA+.
MORE: Tigers lost out to Mets on trade for Cardinals’ Ryan Helsley
Before coming to Detroit, the veteran pitcher had a 3.92 ERA and had a 106 ERA+. But, across the 36 games he appeared in for Detroit over the 2024 and 2025 seasons, Maeda had a 66 ERA+.
While he’s struggled during his time in Detroit, the former Tigers pitcher was an above-average pitcher before making his way to Detroit. If the Yankees can get his pre-Detroit version, he’d be a nice addition to a pitching staff after the trade deadline passed.
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