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Kenta Maeda Reveals He Actually Requested Trade From Dodgers

By Brendan Balsamo

Kenta Maeda, now with the Twins, revealed that he actually requested a trade while with the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Kenta Maeda, now with the Twins, revealed that he actually requested a trade while with the Los Angeles Dodgers. / Brace Hemmelgarn/Getty Images

Kenta Maeda was involved in the biggest trade of the 2019-20 offseason, which saw two Boston Red Sox stars in Mookie Betts and David Price head to Los Angeles. Meanwhile, those same Dodgers sent Maeda to the Minnesota Twins in the three-team deal.

Despite the team choosing to trade him, Maeda made fans aware on Wednesday via his YouTube channel that he requested a trade out of L.A. this winter.

Maeda, who was picked up by the Dodgers from the Japanese league, signed an eight-year, $25 million deal in 2016 with Los Angeles. Maeda, like many pitchers, had wanted to be a starter, but with the log jam that started to build up in the Dodgers rotation, Maeda saw most of his time transition to relief appearances.

He was given multiple incentives based on innings pitched and the amount of starts he had, which would become impossible to achieve due to not getting chances to start.

Overall, it looks like it was the best move for both the Dodgers and Maeda. Maeda is no longer disgruntled by becoming another mere bullpen arm, and the Dodgers cleared up the space they needed in order to acquire Betts and Price.