Chicago Cubs sign 37-year-old veteran pitcher to a minor league deal

The Chicago Cubs front office has been hard at work trying to figure out their pitching staff before summer is in full swing this season. Last month, the organization suffered a tough blow when Justin Steele was lost for the entire season due to an elbow injury. The left-hander had looked off in Spring Training, but the team has missed his top-of-the-rotation presence over the past month. Shota Imanaga straining his hamstring against the Brewers a couple of weeks ago only made matters worse, but he should be back at some point in June.

Between the rotation injuries and the struggling bullpen, the front office is willing to try any combination possible for their staff before they determine what they need to add at the trade deadline. They went out and brought in a veteran arm off the open market prior to Friday’s series opener at Wrigley Field against the White Sox.

Chicago Cubs sign Kenta Maeda to a minor league deal

MLB: Detroit Tigers at Houston Astros Apr 29, 2025; Houston, Texas, USA; Detroit Tigers relief pitcher Kenta Maeda (18) delivers a pitch during the eighth inning against the Houston Astros at Daikin Park. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-Imagn Images

Per reports, the Cubs officially signed Maeda to a minor league deal on Thursday. The veteran appeared in seven games and possessed a 7.88 ERA to pair with his 1.88 WHIP in 8.0 innings tossed. Maeda signed a two-year deal with the Tigers prior to last season, and he pitched in 29 games for the club in 2024. Out of the 29 appearances he made, 17 of them were starts, and he logged 112.1 innings on the hill.

Maeda finished last year with a 6.09 ERA and a 1.38 WHIP along with his 3-7 record. The now 37-year-old had a rough go at it in Detroit, and he might not have much left in the tank in his big league career. However, the Cubs have been able to revive a few careers on the mound in recent seasons, so Maeda is worth taking a chance on to help their depth issues.

MLB: Chicago White Sox at Detroit Tigers Apr 4, 2025; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Detroit Tigers pitcher Kenta Maeda (18) pitches in the eighth inning against the Chicago White Sox at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images