Dodgers: Kenta Maeda Requested a Trade Out of Los Angeles
The drama that surrounded the Dodgers trading for Mookie Betts will forever go down in history. After agreeing on a trade, and agreeing on another trade with the Angels, everything spiraled. Medical reports went sour and ultimately the Dodgers had to make trades with the Red Sox and Twins directly.
Kenta Maeda revealed on his new YouTube channel that he asked the #Dodgers to trade him. Has a goal of winning 200 games (currently at 144 between MLB and NPB). https://t.co/UX7FFffLyr
— Dylan Hernández (@dylanohernandez) February 29, 2020
One of those trades included Kenta Maeda who was apparently satisfied with the trade. Maeda took to his own YouTube page to discuss some of the moving parts that went into him going to the Twins. Maeda has a goal of winning 200 games between the two leagues he has played in, and he currently sits at 144.
Maeda knew that the Dodgers were not going to give him a permanent role in the rotation. He spent 2019 mostly as a swingman between the bullpen and rotation. For his career in Los Angeles, Maeda started 103 games and appeared in 34 as a reliever.
The issue for this year is that there are plenty of options in the Dodgers’ rotation that would be given a shot over Maeda. Young guys like Dustin May, Tony Gonsolin, and more are likely going to be used more than he would have, so the trade makes sense.
While we hope the two sides left on good terms, it’s not great to hear when a player wants out. Maeda was an integral part of the Dodgers’ 2017 playoff run. He tossed 10.2 innings out of the bullpen and only allowed one earned run.
He was admittedly slightly less integral during the 2019 run, though he was very effective out of the bullpen in the Division Series. Maeda pitched to a 4.04 earned run average 153.2 innings pitched last year.
The Maeda move to Minnesota was good for Maeda, the Dodgers, and the Twins. It was a rare win win win move. Everyone is better off. Good luck to Maeda.
Kenta Madea says good-bye to L.A.
“I would like to take this moment to express my gratitude for welcoming my family from Japan to Los Angeles. Coming from Japan, there were a lot of difference from both living in the United States and playing in MLB for the first time, but you guys have made every moment enjoyable and I’m happy to have belonged to a fantastic organization. Being able to play in back to back World Series was truly a highlight of my baseball career. I thank the amazing staff and teammates for the past 4 seasons as I learned a tremendous amount from each and one of you. I also appreciate the fans for cheering me both on and off field.
I will do my best to level up and win games for the Twins.
I’ll see you next in the World Series”. Kenta Madea