First free agent after 8-year contract expires: “I thought I would consider all offers from Japan and America.”
Pitcher Kenta Maeda, who signed a two-year, $24 million (approximately 3.55 billion yen) contract with the Tigers, held an online press conference on the 1st. His jersey number is now the familiar number 18. He said, “I was happy that he made me the offer first.He needed me,” he said of his feelings.
His eight-year contract with the Dodgers expired in January 2016, and he became the first free agent from the Twins. “Since I became a free agent, I was thinking about offers from all the teams.After the season ended, I thought about considering all the offers from Japan and America,” he said, revealing his thoughts immediately after the season. .
This season, he returned for the first time in two years after right elbow surgery, with a record of 6 wins, 8 losses, and an ERA of 4.23. He will turn 36 next April, but toward the end of the season he felt like he was on his way to a full recovery. He also said that he felt like he had “unfinished business” in the United States.
“One of my goals is to become a world champion.This season, I came back from surgery and had both good and bad points.There were times when I felt like I could have done a little more. I was left with the feeling that I could do it.”
He is 38 wins away from reaching 200 wins between Japan and the United States. The Tigers’ pitching staff has many young players, and expectations are high for him to play a leadership role. “I’m not thinking about what will happen after this contract ends. It depends on my body and the situation at the time. Without thinking about what will happen after this contract ends, I want to do my best for the Tigers.” First of all, I plan to give my all to the Tigers.
(Masaya Kotani)
2023-12-01 07:10:34
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