 |
|
|
| |
« Chad Cordero To Audition Friday | Main | Red Sox Sign Mark Kotsay »
Braves, Orioles Eyeing Kenshin Kawakami
11:14pm: Yahoo's Tim Brown says the Braves were aggressive on Kawakami even before John Smoltz left, so the Japanese pitcher is in a good position. Brown's list of Kawakami suitors includes some new clubs. He names the Braves, Cardinals, Red Sox, Twins, Pirates, Orioles, and possibly Yankees.
A Nikkan Sports article about Kawakami (in Japanese) has been making the rounds lately. I asked Patrick Newman about it; apparently it says Kawakami has advanced to final negotiations with the Braves. My guess is that this report jumped the gun.
8:34pm: Steve Melewski of MASN reports that the Orioles are still in the hunt for Japanese pitcher Kenshin Kawakami.
"The O's remain in the mix, no question," a source told MASN. "They've showed a strong pursuit of Kawakami." Baltimore has already signed another Japanese import, Koji Uehara, but are looking for more starting pitching depth. Kawakami, 34, has a career record of 106-62 and a 3.17 ERA in Japan. The O's extended an offer to him at the end of December, but he's obviously keeping his options open. The Braves, Twins and Cardinals are also believed to have interest.
TrackBack
TrackBack URL for this entry:
http://www.typepad.com/services/trackback/6a00d834515b9a69e2010536bf3006970c
Listed below are links to weblogs that reference Braves, Orioles Eyeing Kenshin Kawakami:
Comments
Verify your Comment
Previewing your Comment
This is only a preview. Your comment has not yet been posted.
As a final step before posting your comment, enter the letters and numbers you see in the image below. This prevents automated programs from posting comments.
Having trouble reading this image? View an alternate.
Top Stories
Search MLBTR
MLBTR Features
Recent Posts
Rumors By Team
Monthly Archives
Live Chats
Tuesdays at 2 p.m. CST
The O's really need this guy...
Posted by: Topher | January 08, 2009 at 09:00 PM
Not to nit pick but Steve Melewski reported that blog
Posted by: Pat | January 08, 2009 at 09:09 PM
The O's need any starting pitcher, with a sub-5 ERA, that they can get for a 2 year contract!
As long as they don't sign an aging Type A or B free agent and have to give up picks, I'll be happy.
Posted by: bard203 | January 08, 2009 at 09:10 PM
Just another name for Gary Thorne to screw up.
Posted by: OLDBIRD | January 08, 2009 at 09:14 PM
BTW: Why not trade Roberts to the Cubs for Cedano, Marshal, and another young pitcher?
I love Roberts, but don't the Cubs still need a better 2b. All I'm saying is, if I have to suffer through another horrible O's season, than why not trade Roberts, sign Ray Durham, and give me hope for the future.
On the other hand, I feel like I've been saying this for the last ten years!
Posted by: bard203 | January 08, 2009 at 09:18 PM
since the uehara signing didnt get much attention over in japan the os need kawakami. otherwise it will be like they still havent signed a japanese player
Posted by: clemsontribe24 | January 08, 2009 at 09:19 PM
yea, pats right. that was steve melewski doing the reporting there.
Posted by: lftyg33 | January 08, 2009 at 09:23 PM
Clemsontribe24,
It really doesn't matter how much press the signing gets. It only matters how Uehara preforms next season.
If he does well, the Japanese players and fans will notice. If he does poorly, it'll be like we never signed a Japanese player.
Posted by: bard203 | January 08, 2009 at 09:24 PM
No dodgers? I would think him and Kuroda could be buddies.
Posted by: NedCollettiClueless | January 08, 2009 at 09:46 PM
I wonder if the Japanese media would notice if the Orioles signed Kawakami as well? I understand Uehara signing hasn't made that many headlines over there.
From a pitching stand-point, the Orioles need another starter. I doubt they sign a guy like Garland, let alone Sheets! I'm pulling for it to happen.
Posted by: Orioles13 | January 08, 2009 at 10:07 PM
lol @OLDBIRD
Gary Thorne botches every name that has more then 2 sylables."Sar-fart-ay" never forget that one.
And I agree we need to trade Roberts asap. He should have been traded last year,but he kept saying he was interested in an extension and was giving everyone including the front office false hope. Its pretty clear he's anxious to become a FA. I can respect that but she should have been more honest about it.
This could hypothetically make for some long mound visits if we sign Pudge. Broken english and japanese. Were gonna need to sign an interpreter that can bat.300 lol
Posted by: RotoNetwork.com | January 08, 2009 at 11:26 PM
Google translate the Nikkan article for a hearty laugh! That's what a free translator gets ya
Posted by: Baleen | January 08, 2009 at 11:50 PM
So my quesiton is how does this affect the whole pursuit of Lowe?
Posted by: bravesbeast | January 08, 2009 at 11:57 PM
bravesbeast - I'm really, really pulling for them to sign both of them, and from what I can gather from DOB and Bowman that's what they want to do...Of course, with the way this offseason has gone in Atlanta that means they'll sign Paul Byrd and a little know pitcher from Greenland.
If they were to sign both that would make the 2010 rotation: Hudson/Lowe/Vazquez/Jurrjens/Kawakami. Sick. I think 1 of 2 things happens in 2010
- The team converts Hanson to a closer (ala Papelbon)
- The team trades a pitcher for prospects, maybe even a straight swap for a highly ranked or ML ready infielder to replace Chipper.
Posted by: Baleen | January 09, 2009 at 12:24 AM
* thats IF they sign 2 pitchers to multi-year deals this offseason
Posted by: Baleen | January 09, 2009 at 12:25 AM
Baleen
i agree that they are hoping to sign both but Hanson will be in the rotation in 2010 and probably by june this year if he doesnt get the job out of spring training.
Hudson Lowe Hanson JJ Kawakami 2010.
Trade Vazquez -
Posted by: Z3R0 | January 09, 2009 at 12:40 AM
Oh yeah I think Hanson would be a waste in the bullpen, guess I should've listed the trade option first!
If I had to trade 1 of the 6, it'd be Vazquez, even though I like him. If I were GM I'd throw Jurrjens' name out there just to see if I could get someone to overpay for young pitching.
Posted by: Baleen | January 09, 2009 at 12:48 AM
"I wonder if the Japanese media would notice if the Orioles signed Kawakami as well? I understand Uehara signing hasn't made that many headlines over there."
Kawakami won 100 games in the NPB league and you have to figure that any team signing him is bound to get a lift regarding future NPB players due to him not only being a Japanese player as a team mate, but he has to have some kind of following from his success.
Teams need to get a foot in the door to the NPB league and so far, many seem to be going to either Boston or Seattle and other teams need to get into this by just getting that 1st guy.
Having a 100 game winner just seems to be a 'right guy" to me, especially when he seems as if can be a solid #4-5 starter on multiple teams in dire need of one.
Teams like the Braves and Milwaukee in particular to me should pay hard attention to this guy as badly as they both need starters and both teams wanting to at least play .500 ball in 2009.
Posted by: johns | January 09, 2009 at 04:16 AM
Wow sounds like both the orioles and braves need this guy. To the orioles I hold out my hand and say "may the best team win" :)
Posted by: DaveBraves | January 09, 2009 at 08:10 AM
Actually, I think the Braves need him more...The Orioles will struggle in their division no matter what. The Braves actually have an OK lineup, but their pitching is pretty bad.
Posted by: tomfromsd | January 09, 2009 at 08:20 AM
Tim, I hope your wrong about that Nikkan sports article. Us Braves fans need something to feel good about. Getting their name out in Japan to attract talent has to be a high priority for the Braves FO, not to mention making SOME progress this offseason considering the general lack of progress so far.
Posted by: Andy Braves Fan | January 09, 2009 at 08:39 AM
As an O's fan, this seems like a no-brainer. Low risk, medium-reward signing, fills a hole, gives the kids time to develop, and- perhaps best of all- puts us front and center with regard to the Japanese market. Uehara was a nice entree, but if we're able to sign Kawakami in addition...? Well...suddenly the O's are getting Eastern exposure on par with Boston and the Yanks. Just to be in the conversation re: Yu Darvish would be a coup. That's a huge market to tap both in terms of players and consumers/fans. Seems to me that, with those kind of benefits, a modest 2-3 year deal that fills a team need is more than reasonable.
Posted by: milehigh78 | January 09, 2009 at 02:43 PM