Tigers Designate Kenta Maeda for Assignment, Call Up Hard-Throwing Prospect Tyler Owens

ANAHEIM, Calif. — The Detroit Tigers have designated veteran pitcher Kenta Maeda for assignment, ending a rocky tenure that lasted just over a year. The move opens up a roster spot for 24-year-old reliever Tyler Owens, who was called up from Triple-A Toledo.

Maeda, 37, signed a two-year, $24 million contract with Detroit in November 2023. However, the right-hander struggled to regain his form, posting a 6.21 ERA across 36 appearances over parts of two seasons. In 2025 alone, Maeda gave up eight runs in just eight innings out of the bullpen.

Tigers Shift Focus to Youth

“It’s tough,” manager A.J. Hinch said. “When he was good, he helped us. But when he struggled, we couldn’t get him back on track. It’s a frustrating end to his time here. We want to create opportunities for younger arms we’re excited about.”

That includes Owens, a promising righty whose fastball clocks in between 96–98 mph. He struck out 11 and walked nine in 14 innings for Toledo this year, posting a 4.50 ERA in 12 appearances.

From Dodgers Ace to Tigers Letdown

Maeda originally made a name for himself with the Los Angeles Dodgers between 2016 and 2019, earning a 3.87 ERA across 137 games and posting a 3.31 ERA in 24 playoff appearances. He had a standout year in 2020 with the Minnesota Twins, finishing second in AL Cy Young voting thanks to a 2.70 ERA in the shortened season.

But injuries and inconsistency followed. After missing the entire 2022 season recovering from Tommy John surgery, Maeda returned with a 4.23 ERA in 2023. Detroit had hoped for a resurgence, but his ERA ballooned to 7.26 by mid-2024, prompting a move to the bullpen that offered brief improvement but no lasting stability.

What’s Next for Maeda?

Per MLB rules, the Tigers have seven days to trade or release Maeda, or assign him to the minors if he clears waivers. Due to his service time, Maeda can reject a minor league assignment and become a free agent instead.

“We just couldn’t get him right,” Hinch said. “Sometimes that happens, and it’s unfortunate. But we have to look ahead.”

Owens Gets His Shot

With Detroit’s bullpen in flux, Tyler Owens now has the opportunity to prove himself at the major league level. The Tigers hope his velocity and raw potential can provide a spark — and perhaps a glimpse of the club’s future on the mound.