Maeda makes $1M start for Dodgers

Kenta Maeda's start Saturday against the Pittsburgh Pirates - which lasted just five innings - cost the Los Angeles Dodgers $1 million.

Maeda allowed four hits and four earned runs, including two home runs to Andrew McCutchen, en route to an eventual Dodgers loss, his fifth of the season.

Due to Maeda's complex contract, the Japanese right-hander earned the large sum of cash because it was his fifteenth start of the year.

His eight-year, $25-million contract includes a number of bonuses based on games started and innings pitched after an offseason physical showed irregularities.

He earns $1 million each for his fifteenth and twentieth starts, as well as $1.5 million for starts 25, 30, and 32.

Maeda can also potentially earn $3.5 million in performance bonuses based on innings pitched. He will make $250,000 each for 90, 100, 110, 120, 130, 140, 150, 160, 170, 180, and 190 innings pitched and $750,000 if he reaches 200 innings.

The hurler has been effective in his first major-league season, posting a 6-5 record with a 2.91 ERA and 1.11 WHIP.