LOS ANGELES (AP) — The Dodgers opened their wallet to sign Japanese pitcher Kenta Maeda to an incentive-laden deal that could be worth $106.2 million if he stays healthy, a risk the team was willing to take despite knowing he has had elbow issues.
After the $25 million, eight-year contract was finalized Thursday, Maeda was introduced during a news conference at Dodger Stadium.
Maeda and the Dodgers acknowledged that his physical revealed unspecified “irregularities.” The 27-year-old right-hander said he’s confident he will be able to pitch a full season in the major leagues.
If Maeda is on the Dodgers’ opening-day roster each season and makes 32 starts and pitches 200 innings each year, he would receive the full $106.2 million. He would earn $150,000 annually for being on the 25-man opening-day active roster.
Maeda was 15-8 with a 2.09 ERA in 29 starts in 2015. In eight seasons with Hiroshima, Maeda went 97-67 with a 2.39 ERA and 1.05 WHIP. He has twice won the Sawamura Award, the equivalent of MLB’s Cy Young Award given to the best pitcher.
Ryan Cook agrees to
$1.1M deal with Mariners
SEATTLE (AP) — Right-hander Ryan Cook has agreed to a one-year contract with the Seattle Mariners, who added another arm to their overhauled bullpen.
Cook’s deal, which is not guaranteed, calls for a $1.1 million salary while in the majors and $300,000 while in the minors. He can earn another $300,000 in performance bonuses for games pitched in the majors: $50,000 each for 40 and 50, and $100,000 apiece for 60 and 70.
Cook was an All-Star in 2012 with Oakland when he went 6-2 with a 2.09 ERA in 71 appearances. It was the start of a strong three-year stretch for Cook when he was an integral part of Oakland’s bullpen.
But the 29-year-old fell off in 2015 splitting his time with Oakland and Boston. He made nine relief appearances between the two clubs and had an 18.69 ERA and spent most of the season at Triple-A.
Nationals sign Murphy
to $37.5M contract’
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Washington Nationals don’t expect Daniel Murphy to be their savior.
Murphy seized the postseason spotlight for the New York Mets, homering in six straight games on the way to the World Series. But the Nationals are not asking for that. They simply want the player they signed to a $37.5 million, three-year contract to be a consistent hitter as their everyday second baseman.
“The playoffs meant little to me as far as his performance,” general manager Mike Rizzo said at a news conference Thursday at Nationals Park. “I’ve seen him play his whole major league career. ... You’re talking about a very sharp player that plays the game the right way and is a winner.”
Murphy won and lost with the Mets in October — from his record home run streak to late errors in Games 4 and 5 of the World Series. He hit .529 with four home runs in the NL Championship Series against the Chicago Cubs to be the MVP. The flip side came in the World Series, a .150 average and poor play in the field as the Kansas City Royals won their first championship since 1985.
