Kenta Maeda: Everything you need to know

Maeda announced Wednesday that he will return to Japan to continue his career. Maeda allowed seven earned runs over eight innings in the big leagues in 2025 and posted a 5.40 ERA and 1.32 WHIP across 100 frames between the Cubs' and Yankees' Triple-A affiliates. Now, after pitching for the Dodgers, Twins and Tigers during his nine MLB seasons, the 37-year-old will return to his home country, where he could end up playing out the remainder of his professional career.

The Yankees signed Maeda to a minor-league contract Monday, Jorge Castillo of ESPN.com reports. It didn't take long for Maeda to find a new home, signing with the Yankees the same day he was released by the Cubs. Maeda spent his entire Cubs stint in the minors with Triple-A Iowa, and over his last nine starts he posted a 3.55 ERA, 1.07 WHIP and 41:18 K:BB across 50.2 innings. The veteran right-hander will report to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, but he could be called up by the Yankees to serve either in the rotation or bullpen as the regular season winds down.

The Cubs released Maeda on Saturday. After getting cut loose by the Tigers on May 7, Maeda connected with the Cubs on a minor-league deal just under two weeks later. He had been making regular turns out of the rotation for Triple-A Iowa but didn't earn a call-up to Chicago, despite delivering a 3.55 ERA and 1.07 WHIP in 50.2 innings dating back to the start of June. Though the Cubs chose to move on from the 37-year-old right-hander, he likely won't have to wait long to find a new home. Jon Heyman of the New York Post reported Monday that the Yankees are in talks with Maeda on a deal, and other playoff-contending clubs looking to bolster their rotation depth during the stretch run could also express interest.