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« Tony Clark Won't Be Back With D'Backs | Main | Pirates Pulled Out Of Bay To Cleveland Deal »
Dodgers Sign Kuroda
UPDATE, 12-15-07 at 6:26pm: Crasnick has an update: it's for $35-36MM over three years. So he's no bargain. $35.3MM, to be exact.
UPDATE, 12-15-07 at 3:52pm: Ken Rosenthal checks in, noting that the Dodgers and other clubs were willing to go to four years on Kuroda but he preferred three.
UPDATE, 12-15-07 at 2:25pm: Tony Jackson of the L.A. Daily News reports that the Dodgers have signed Kuroda to a three-year deal worth between $36-40MM, pending a physical. The Dodgers will go with Brad Penny, Chad Billingsley, Derek Lowe, Kuroda, and Jason Schmidt if he's healthy. Esteban Loaiza might have to move to the bullpen for now.
UPDATE, 12-15-07 at 11:32am: Dylan Hernandez of the L.A. Times says Ned Colletti had multiple conversations with Kuroda's agent yesterday, and the two sides made "significant progress." The Dodgers still appear to be offering three years and $30MM. Hernandez adds that Arizona continued talking to Kuroda's agent as well - the addition of Dan Haren apparently doesn't diminish their interest.
FROM 12-14-07 at 9:50pm:
After all the ruckus about Hiroki Kuroda earlier this week, his agent said today that he still has not reached a decision. The decision is "very close," and may come by the end of the weekend. The Mariners, Dodgers, Diamondbacks, and Royals have offers out.
No word yet on whether the D'Backs will pull their offer after snagging Dan Haren. I know they're going with the three-year payroll plan, so they can probably still fit Kuroda in.
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Kuroda does sign with the D'Backs, who gets bboted for the rotation?
Owings?
Posted by: tolo316 | December 14, 2007 at 09:54 PM
My guess is they'd trade Davis.
Posted by: tmar | December 14, 2007 at 10:14 PM
If the Dodgers fail to land Kuroda, I could see them turning to Joe Blanton instead. And since the A's are in full rebuild mode it seems, I guess I would have to root for Kuroda to land with the Royals or Mariners.
Question is, would the Reds go after Blanton? Or maybe even if the Mariners fail to get Kuroda, will the Mariners inquire about Blanton? Most of Blanton's good starts seemed to be against the Mariners, so they have a skewed view of him.
Posted by: Zonis | December 14, 2007 at 10:19 PM
Here's the latest from Tony Jackson (no relation to me) of the Daily News:
Colletti says the Dodgers have made "significant progress" in negotiations. He goes on to say that they could agree to terms tomorrow. "Hopefully, we're closing in," Colletti said.
I know it's not much, but I still say he ends up in LA rather than Seattle (personally, I figure the D'backs are out of it now; then again, considering there's a strong chance the Unit never comes back from his surgery, they may still be a starter short).
Posted by: CJax33 | December 14, 2007 at 10:28 PM
I think the Dodgers will be better off trading for a Joe Blanton rather than signing an unproven Kuroda. Billy Beane probably could have done better for Haren. Most of the prospects Beane got in return for Haren probably aren't as major-league ready as some of the players the Dodgers could give up.
At this point in the Dodgers off-season, I don't think signing an unproven import is smart. Ned Colletti's M.O. seems to be short term big money deals. Why give 4 years to Kuroda? Un-load some of the 2nd tier prospects or MLB ready guys and save some money!
Posted by: jskohl | December 15, 2007 at 02:11 AM
Theres no way Beane takes 2nd tier prospects for Blanton and the guys he's gonna ask for in return create more holes and question marks for us. Give up Kemp or ship Ethier back there? Yea right. Unless you're really in love with Juan Pierre starting in your outfield the next 4 years, you can't pull the trigger on that.
Kuroda isn't "proven" in the major leagues but he has an above .500 winning record in Japan and that should count for at least something. Plus it's only a 3 year contract, not 4. The Dodgers have also heavily scouted him, and their track record with pitching imports is decent enough to trust they know what's what concerning Kuroda's ability and what he could contribute to the Dodgers pitching staff. If Coletti gets this done he's stabilized the rotation (on paper) without surrendering our young stars or prospects.
Unless the deal is Juan Pierre and Nomar for Blanton. Then you swoop on that right away. Parties in LA, a public Beane crucifixion in Oakland.
Posted by: joeldm | December 15, 2007 at 12:36 PM
FANTASTIC signing for the Blue. They get him for less than $10 mill/year, after all the 4/44 numbers that were being thrown around?
I love it. Now we've got Penny/Billingsley/Lowe/Kuroda/Schmidt.
That is tasty.
Posted by: Mike Scioscia's tragic illness | December 15, 2007 at 02:41 PM
I guess the Orioles can scratch the Dodgers off the list of suitors for Bedard.
Oh well, the list was too long anyhow *G*.
Posted by: JR | December 15, 2007 at 02:46 PM
hey sicko...
Doesn't that work out to be an avg annual value of 12-13MM per...
Posted by: Dave | December 15, 2007 at 02:48 PM
Rotoworld Reporting:
Hiroki Kuroda is in the process of finalizing a three-year deal with the Dodgers, the Los Angeles Daily News reports.
It's going to be worth more than expected, $36 million-$40 million according to the report. That seems like a ridiculous sum for a right-hander who might not be more than a fourth or fifth starter, but he does have more upside than Kyle Lohse and Carlos Silva, both of whom figure to get $10 million per year anyway.
Source: Los Angeles Daily News
Posted by: DRWheelock | December 15, 2007 at 03:00 PM
Mike Scioscia's tragic illnesss...
So much for you "less than $10M/year post!"
Try $12-$13.3M/year range!!!
Mariners better get Bedard now, or they might as well pull a 2008 Beane and start the rebuilding process.
It just scares me as a M's fan to "imagine" what Bavasi will do this offseason when he's backed into the corner "again"...the Kuroda to LAD signing definitely backs him in a corner. NOW he will be signing FAs out of desperation!!! Oh crap...is Jeff Weaver still available??!!
Posted by: DRWheelock | December 15, 2007 at 03:05 PM
I have to agree. Bavasi is the WORST. Have fun with Silva AND Lohse for a combined $100 M, Mariners fans.
Posted by: djskilbr | December 15, 2007 at 03:12 PM
Are the Dodgers at Yankee payroll yet??
Posted by: zito4cyyoung | December 15, 2007 at 04:25 PM
Andy Pettite admits to taking HGH.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22274719/
Posted by: ArodSucksAtLife | December 15, 2007 at 04:59 PM
Too bad it wont matter, since the Dodgers will be looking up at The Diamondbacks all year.
Posted by: GmblngPtchr20 | December 15, 2007 at 05:29 PM
An interesting and strange signing for the Dodgers IMO. Obviously I don't have much of an opinion on Kuroda, but it sounds as if he will slot in as a #3 "at best". Given the emergence of Billingsley and the depth elsewise within the organization, I find it difficult to believe this was the best way to spend $12M. Obviously I am no GM though...
Posted by: Brandon Heikoop | December 15, 2007 at 06:10 PM
I think this is a good move.
It keeps him out of the Diamondbacks staff. Addition by subtraction.
I know that the track record of Japanese pitchers in the MLB is spotty, but he's got a good scouting report, few home runs given up, and a decent fastball and great splitter.
Just look at the position the Dodgers are now in. All the rookies are still here... Loney and Kemp will hit 30+ home runs next year, Jones will add 35+, Kent could be good for 25 if protected well, and Martin and Ethier (we WILL trade Pierre) hitting 290 with 15 home runs each. No other team in the NL west can really compete with this (Sorry Arizona, but you're not there yet.)
Good move.
Posted by: jeremydodger | December 15, 2007 at 06:17 PM
Plus the Japanese leagues are about as good as the NL really. AAAA baseball.
Posted by: djskilbr | December 15, 2007 at 06:21 PM
Even if Kuroda doesn't pan out, it will atleast give the Dodger kids some time to further prove themselves, so Colletti won't package them up and overpay Bedard. After the Haren to Dbacks trade, I assumed Colleti would overreact and finally give in for Bedard, but I hope this Kuroda signing will be enough to keep him happy.
Posted by: Chillin | December 15, 2007 at 06:35 PM
Good move for the Dodgers. Save Colletti from himself and keeps him from overpaying for Eric Bedard or Joe Blanton. The Dodgers still have Kemp, Kershaw and LaRoche and that makes Kuroda's big salary very palatable.
Posted by: ibtorgy | December 15, 2007 at 07:44 PM
I was pretty sure Santana would not go to LA, but thought Bedard might. Kuroda is an ok move by Colletti.
Posted by: Oh Boy | December 15, 2007 at 07:54 PM
I like how Colletti has brought in two talented players in Andruw Jones and Hiroki Kuroda. But, I think the Dodgers will have to make at least one trade to make room in the outfield.
I am also curious if Clayton Kershaw will get a serious opportunity to play in Los Angeles sometime in the next 2 years. Derek Lowe probably won't be back in '09, maybe Kershaw is ready by then?
Posted by: jskohl | December 15, 2007 at 10:26 PM
Kershaw has the talent, and drive to be throwing above league average innings by July. He'll be in the bigs as a September call up for sure, unless they feel the innings added will be a detriment to his future success.
Posted by: ArodSucksAtLife | December 15, 2007 at 10:41 PM
The Dodgers should at least give Kershaw a chance to show his stuff in Spring Training. If he spends one season in Jacksonville he'll be OK. Ned decided to hold on to Kershaw, so they need to get him in LA as soon as he is ready. Billingsly looks like a stud, and as long as Russell Martin is calling a good game, the Dodgers pitching staff looks set for a few years.
Posted by: jskohl | December 15, 2007 at 10:50 PM
Yay Colletti... a bit pricey, but I think it's a smart move and worth the money. We'll have to wait and see how Kuroda does, but at the very least he adds options and insurance at the end of the rotation. Instead of absolutely relying on a full Schmidt recovery AND a better performance from Loaiza, we are now in a position where we need only rely on one of the two. Additionally, he buys time for Kershaw's development. It seems now we have MORE options for the rotation spots rather than vice versa.
The thing I like MOST about Colletti's moves is that he has added options and depth without sacrificing any of our prospect chips. If things turn south during the season, we'll have plenty of chips (prospects, outfielders, Loaiza?, Pierre!) with which to make trades and fill holes without needing to gut the family jewels of the team. A nice offseason for Uncle Ned. Well done.
Posted by: DodgersLBC | December 15, 2007 at 11:55 PM
Assuming the Dodgers don't have any interest in Bedard at this point, I wonder if they'd be interested in something like Pierre and Hu for Jamie Walker. Orioles get a young SS and dodgers get rid of PIerre's contract and a useful reliever.
Posted by: rps | December 16, 2007 at 10:22 AM
I don't think the Dodgers need to make any more starting pitching moves. An outfielder needs to be traded and they need a backup catcher and maybe a reliever.
Posted by: jskohl | December 16, 2007 at 10:46 AM