Report: Red Sox heavily scouting free-agent-to-be Kenta Maeda
The upcoming free agent market figures to be a good one in terms of frontline starting pitching, what with Max Scherzer, Jon Lester and James Shields slated to be on it. There's also Japanese right-hander Kenta Maeda, who's expected to be posted at some point in November.
Footage!
On that front, you should perhaps consider the Red Sox to be strong candidates to sign Maeda. Here's Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe:
The Red Sox have had multiple scouts and executives watch Hiroshima Carp righthander Kenta Maeda, including his most recent start. Maeda will be posted in November and it would be surprising if the Red Sox didn’t post the $25 million fee for the chance to negotiate with Maeda, who could fill one of their five rotation slots. Maeda is considered a smaller version of Masahiro Tanaka.
Across parts of seven seasons in Japan's Central League, Maeda, 26, owns a career 2.45 ERA and a K/BB ratio of 3.72. While he lacks Tanaka's ceiling, he does, as you can see above, throw an assortment of pitches and incorporate a disruptive pause in his delivery, as so many Japanese hurlers do. He'll have suitors, particularly with the reduced posting fees now in effect.
Related Links
