Japanese pitcher Kenta Maeda will not be posted this offseason
Japanese pitcher Kenta Maeda will not be joining Major League Baseball after his team decided not to post him this offseason, The Japan Times reports.
During a meeting on Thursday, the Hiroshima Carp of Japan's Central League told Maeda they will not let him join an MLB team.
Maeda, 26, has played seven seasons for Hiroshima, compiling an 82-59 record with a 2.44 ERA and 1,058 strikeouts in 1,303 1/3 innings. He finished 11-9 last season with a 2.60 ERA and 161 strikeouts. He is a 6-foot righthander who throws in the low-90s and projects as a fourth or fifth starter.
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He will be a free agent following the 2017 season.
Earlier this offseason, The Boston Globe's Nick Cafardo reported Maeda could receive a contact worth as much as $130 million from either the Boston Red Sox or New York Yankees.
The Yankees signed Japanese pitcher Masahiro Tanaka to a seven-year, $155 million deal before last season.
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- Paul Palladino
