Los Angeles Dodgers

Dodgers, Maeda reportedly agree on 8-year, $25M incentive-laden deal

Published Jan. 7, 2016 6:55 p.m. ET

foxsports

The Los Angeles Dodgers have officially signed Kenta Maeda to a long-term deal, but they have safeguarded themselves against the possibility of him not living up to expectations.

The Dodgers made their deal with Maeda official on Thursday by introducing the 27-year-old righty in a press conference at Dodger Stadium.

While Maeda has been signed to an eight-year deal that reportedly has no opt-out clause, he is only guaranteed $25 million, an annual payout of $3.13 million.

However, according to a Los Angeles Times report, Maeda can make more than $100 million ($12.5 million or more annually) over the life of the contract due to a variety of performance incentives included in the deal. The Dodgers will also have to pay Maeda's team in Japan, the Hiroshima Carp, a release fee of $20 million.

Maeda's relatively low value despite being heralded as one of the top pitchers in Japan stems from irregularities found in a physical exam he took and submitted to prospective major-league suitors.

It was not a #Dodgers physical that tripped up Maeda. It was the physical he took and submitted to all teams, hence the limited market.
— Bill Shaikin (@BillShaikin) January 7, 2016

Reports earlier in the week indicated that the Dodgers were concerned about his elbow.

"During my physical, there were some irregularities that surfaced that was factored into the contract that I signed," Maeda said through a translator during Thursday's press conference. "Despite the fact that there were some irregularities found in the physical, the Dodgers made the decision to make a long-term commitment to me and that was meaningful to me, so I decided to make a long-term commitment to the organization."

In his eight seasons with the Hiroshima Carp in the Japan Central League, Maeda compiled a 97-67 record with a 2.39 ERA and 1.05 WHIP. He logged his highest innings total in three seasons in 2015 with 206 1/3 innings over 29 starts, a feat he aims to replicate in 2016 in his first MLB season.

After striking out on Zack Greinke and other top-tier starters on the free-agent market, the Dodgers are happy to have landed one of the top pitchers on the international market.

"Today is an exciting day for the Dodgers organization," president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman said. "To add a player of Kenta's caliber is something that after we spent a lot of time evaluating him, getting to know him, we are excited to add him to our group not just in 2016 but for the foreseeable future."