Dodgers have no business rescuing former pitcher who was just DFA'd by Tigers

The Dodgers need pitching help, sure. The Dodgers are really good at turning coal into diamonds, sure. But that doesn't mean that they should, under any circumstances, grab Kenta Maeda off the waiver wire or make a trade with the Tigers for him.

Maeda was DFA'ed on Thursday, leaving the Tigers to eat $10 million they owe him this season. He was bumped to their bullpen after 16 starts last year, after he'd posted a 7.26 ERA, and didn't look any better as a reliever. The Tigers gave him the benefit of the doubt in spring training when he participated in the race for their final two rotation spots, but he ended up heading back to the bullpen anyway.

The Tigers have been quiet quitting on Maeda this season and have given him the ball the least of anyone in the bullpen. For good reason, too; he has a 7.88 ERA in eight innings.

Maeda was, of course, a Dodger for four seasons and did some good work for them, but let's not forget that he was also bumped back to the bullpen in his last year in LA for performance issues. The Dodgers might need another body to fill the rotation, but it shouldn't be Maeda.

Dodgers need to steer clear of former LA starter Kenta Maeda after Tigers DFA'ed him

The Tigers signing Maeda in the first place was a questionable decision. He placed second in Cy Young voting in 2020, but that was 2020. He has a 5.08 ERA since then and missed the entirety of the 2022 season after undergoing Tommy John. Ever since, he hasn't even been a particularly respectable innings-eater, topping out at 112 1/3 innings last season before the Tigers demoted him.

It would be so characteristic of the Dodgers to see an opportunity in Maeda. They still only have four starters when they would ideally have six, and there are no answers for Blake Snell and Tyler Glasnow. Clayton Kershaw is set to come back in just a few weeks, but they'll also have to tread carefully with him. They could gamble, welcome Maeda back, and try to fix him.

But the Tigers' pitching coaches are developing quite a good reputation for themselves as well. Chris Fetter has whipped the bullpen into shape, and Detroit's rotation might be one of the best in baseball. If they couldn't fix Maeda, it might be a damning act of hubris for the Dodgers to believe that they could. Especially if they can't keep starters healthy as it is.