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Former Minnesota Twins Cy Young runner-up plans to pitch in home country in 2026

Former Twins pitcher Kenta Maeda announced on TV Tokyo’s “Sports Real Live” show that he plans to leave America at the end of this season and hopes to pitch for a Nippon Professional Baseball team next year. Maeda said that he decided to leave Major League Baseball behind this year after signing his two-year deal worth $24MM with the Detroit Tigers in the 2023-24 offseason.

The Twins acquired Maeda and catching prospect Jair Camargo from the Los Angeles Dodgers in exchange for righty reliever Brusdar Graterol, outfielder Luke Raley and a Competitive Balance Pick in Feb.