The end of an indentured servitude is in sight…

Genta Maeda (35, Minnesota Twins) is nearing the end of his eight-year, $20 million contract. Maeda signed an eight-year, $20 million deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers ahead of the 2016 season that included a complex set of options. At the time, the Dodgers did not offer a high guaranteed salary, citing Maeda’s inability to digest innings in Nippon Professional Baseball.먹튀검증

As it turned out, the Dodgers were right. The Dodgers traded Maeda to Minnesota before the 2020 season. Maeda had won 16, 13, 8, and 10 games in the four years leading up to the 2019 season, but coincidentally, his performance dropped off after the trade to Minnesota.

In the shortened 2020 season, he went 6-1 with a 2.70 ERA in 11 games. However, he struggled in 2021, going 6-5 with a 4.66 ERA in 21 games. He underwent Tommy John surgery in August of that year, and was completely lost for the 2022 season.

This season, he suffered a triceps injury on April 27 against the New York Yankees and took two months off before returning on June 24 against the Detroit Tigers. He has been solid since his return, but has struggled in August, going 1-1 with a 5.04 ERA in five starts. On Aug. 4 against the Texas Rangers, he gave up three runs on nine hits (one homer) with three walks and two strikeouts in five innings. No-decision.

In 17 games this season, he’s 3-7 with a 4.73 ERA, a .259 batting average, and a 1.27 WHIP in 83.2 innings. Those aren’t terrible numbers, but they’re not exactly eye-popping either. In the 35-year-old pitcher’s first real season back from Tommy John surgery and rehabilitation, it’s fair to say he’s underperforming.

Maeda has a career record of 62-48 with a 3.96 ERA. He ranks ninth on the all-time Asian major league wins list and third on the all-time wins list behind Darvish (San Diego Padres, 103) and Ryu Hyun-jin (Toronto Blue Jays, 78). To catch up to Darvish and Ryu, he’ll need to maximize his time in the 2023-2024 free agent market. However, not many teams will be willing to give a pitcher in his mid-30s enough guarantees with this track record.

Top 10 Career Wins by Asian Major Leaguers

Park Chan-ho/Korea/124 wins, 98 losses, 4.36 ERA/1993 innings pitched

Hideo Nomo/Japan/123 wins, 109 losses, 4.24 ERA/1976⅓ innings

Darvish Yu/JP/103 wins, 85 losses, 3.59 ERA/1624⅓ innings

Hideki Kuroda/JP/79 wins, 79 losses, 3.45 ERA, 1319 innings pitched

Masahiro Tanaka/JP/78 wins, 46 losses, 3.74 ERA in 1054⅓ innings

류현진/한국/78승46패/평균자책점 3.24/1032⅓이닝

왕젠밍/대만/68승34패/평균자책점 4.36/845⅔이닝

Hisashi Iwakuma/Japan/63-39-3, 3.42 ERA/883⅔ innings pitched

Genta Maeda/Japan/62-48-3, 3.88 ERA, 827⅔ innings pitched

천웨인/대만/59승51패/평균자책점 4.18/1064⅔이닝

If the Dodgers were wise to sign him seven years ago, Maeda will have to prove otherwise in the final month of the season.