10:38am: According to The Atlanta Journal Constitution's Dave O'Brien (Twitter link), Wren responded "We've had a number of discussions over the last couple of weeks. I'll leave it at that," when asked about potentially trading Kawakami or selling him to a Japanese club.
9:01am: The Braves have outrighted Kenshin Kawakami to Double-A Mississippi, reports MLB.com's Mark Bowman. The move gets Kawakami off the team's 40-man roster, though they are still on the hook for his $6.67MM salary for 2011.
The 35-year-old right-hander was solid during his first year with Atlanta, posting a 3.86 ERA with 6.0 K/9, 3.3 BB/9, 0.9 HR/9 in 156.1 innings in 2009. Things fell apart last season despite similar peripheral stats (6.1 K/9, 3.3 BB/9, 1.0 HR/9), as he put up a 5.15 ERA in 87.1 innings and was at one point sent to the minors. Kawakami signed a three-year deal worth $23MM in January 2009 after spending more than a decade with the Chunichi Dragons.
Last month we heard that several Japanese teams were not only interested in acquiring Kawakami, they were also willing to take on some of his salary. So far GM Frank Wren's attempts to move him have proven unsuccessful.
The Mississippi Braves are one of the minors most friendly teams. Any team in the minors with their nickname as the same one of the Major League team, it means the organization has the rights of that team forever, rather than just for 3/4 years…I hope Kawakami gets himself together.
Get himself together? He’s the same exact pitcher he was in ’09! The rates haven’t changed, he just got screwed by a .320 BABIP and a 63.3% LOB%. If I was GM’ing somewhere, I’d give up a C/C+ prospect for Kawakami, especially if I could get Wren to pay half of his salary or so.
In Kawakamis case, the extremely high BABIP is his own fault. Pitchers who take too long between each pitch cause the defense behind them to become soft and distracted. Watch any of KKs starts from 2010. He works frustratingly slowly, throws tons of pitches and has a hard time getting through innings. Not only does this hurt the defense, but it also helps the opposing pitcher by allowing them to rest up between innings. Anyone who watched Usbaldo’s no-no against the Braves knows exactly what I’m talking about.
Which is why his BABIP was .290 a year ago, when he had a larger sample of innings?
Right. I have watched Kawakami start many times against the D-backs, and I’d love to have him in AZ. Good back-end guy on a nice contract.
I would love to see him in AZ as well.
I would love to see him in AZ as well.
Give him to japan for 3 million then
1-Sign Magglio Ordonez
2-Trade for CoCo Crisp
3-Sign Jaoquin Benoit
4-Sign Rich Harden and a left handed started
5-Sign Ty Wiggington to back up Chipper
Lineup
1-Crisp
2-Prado
3-Heyward
4-Ordonez
5-McCann
6-Jones
7-Freeman
8-Gonzalez
As Phils fan, I want Benoit and Wigginton as well. Good additions to any team.
how on earth do you think that we could afford to sign Maggs, Benoit, Harden, a LH starter, and Wigginton? Wow, that’s quite ridiculous.
Maggs-8 mill
Benoit-2 mill
harden-1 mil
LH starter-2 mil(not a top tier but an innings eater
Wiggingto-2-3 mil
We have 15 mill to spend plus whatever money we get out of kawakami so how is it ridiculous now?
You want Rich Harden? lol….
Please do not sign Rich Harden.
do you realize that will put us in the same situation as last season. Lots of ?’s and a large payroll. Ordonez and Wigginton are not going to solve our hitting problems. I would rather save the money and attempt to sign a free agent bat (Carlos Pena) or trade Jurrjens. We have alot of depth in the minors at starting pitching and Jurrjens could net a fairly decent return.
Does anyone know if Kawakami refuses his assignment, do the Braves still have to pay him? If not, he’d obviously accept it, no?
I am assuming it would be the same as the Oliver Perez situation in NY last year. They are on the hook for it unless they sell it to another team(in Japan).
He was already in the minors, so not really.
If a player refuses an assignment, he forfeits whatever is left on his contract.
this. I think it’s the Braves’ way of making him decide on the money and AA (and losing face) or declining it and going back to Japan. Pretty heartless on Wren’s part, but one that had to be done.
Not exactly heartless, just business. KK was brought over to do a job and he wasn’t getting it done. Even with better run support, he still was making too many mental mistakes with the glove and then not being able to pitch out of a jam he contributed to.
He was getting it done, he was just extremely unlucky in his 2nd season. The phrase “run support” shouldn’t be anywhere near a Kawakami discussion.
The Braves completely mishandled him.
He was getting it done, he was just extremely unlucky in his 2nd season. The phrase “run support” shouldn’t be anywhere near a Kawakami discussion.
The Braves completely mishandled him.
No, Mike.
Guaranteed contracts are guaranteed for a reason. Since this is the first time Kawakami has been given an assignment, he had to accept.
However, if this was the 2nd or 3rd time he had been outrighted, he could refuse, become a free agent, and sign with another team. The amount he signed for would be subtracted from the guaranteed amount owed to him by the Braves, just like a veteran under a multi-year contract signs for a pro-rated portion of the league minimum after being released by his original team who he signed the contract with.
Yes, he has to accept the assignment now since it’s his first outright. But the second part of your comment applies to players that are released by the team. If the player chooses to become a free agent, he forfeits his salary. If the team makes him a free agent, they still have to pay him.
Yes, you’re right–but you needed to make clear that in the case of a player refusing an outright assignment who chooses free agency(once they can do so), it’s players with at least 5 years of service time who are entitled to the money in their contracts. If this was the 2nd time Kawakami had been outrighted, he wouldn’t have been entitled to the money as you said. Which confused me……And that’s because, for some reason, I thought many of the Japanese players who came over were not subject to this rule. After all, most of them have been able to become free agents after their initial 1, 2, or 3-year contracts expired(the rare exception being Takahashi Saito, who has been arb-eligible, although he’s found ways around that.)It’s good to clarify things. 😉
Yes, he has to accept the assignment now since it’s his first outright. But the second part of your comment applies to players that are released by the team. If the player chooses to become a free agent, he forfeits his salary. If the team makes him a free agent, they still have to pay him.
No, Mike.
Guaranteed contracts are guaranteed for a reason. Since this is the first time Kawakami has been given an assignment, he had to accept.
However, if this was the 2nd or 3rd time he had been outrighted, he could refuse, become a free agent, and sign with another team. The amount he signed for would be subtracted from the guaranteed amount owed to him by the Braves, just like a veteran under a multi-year contract signs for a pro-rated portion of the league minimum after being released by his original team who he signed the contract with.
The Braves are on the hook for his salary, unless we trade him or sell him back to Japan. Too bad we can’t trade him and 3mil in cash to Seattle for Guittueriz(spelling). KK might do well in that big park and we could use the CF help.
You mean trade your number 5 starter that was demoted to the bullpen for a gold glove CF?
Granted the gold glove makes it more difficult now, but there was talk back around July how Sea had some interest. At this point I’d be willing to send KK/Nate and 6mil for Gutierrez(got it this time).
Yeah…that’s not even close.
Yeah… no you didn’t.
Oh how generous of you. I’m sure the Mariners would be thrilled to acquire a center fielder who can’t hit or play center field and a pitcher nobody wants for their two time gold glove center fielder. Gutierrez is signed to a reasonable contract is a productive hitter. Why would the M’s trade him for two expensive rental players who suck?
Oh how generous of you. I’m sure the Mariners would be thrilled to acquire a center fielder who can’t hit or play center field and a pitcher nobody wants for their two time gold glove center fielder. Gutierrez is signed to a reasonable contract is a productive hitter. Why would the M’s trade him for two expensive rental players who suck?
Um…Yeah. The interest in him by Seattle in July was him for Chone Figgins, a bad contract for bad contract trade. Guti will comand ALOT more that your salary dumps.
He just got a new contract before the year, he’s not going anywhere.
Sure then you can give us Martin Prado for Erik Bedard and some Icy Hot Patches too.
Sure then you can give us Martin Prado for Erik Bedard and some Icy Hot Patches too.
Yeah but no one wants KK. I liked him for a while, but everytime we scored he would give up double after double. And even in seatle, the homers would decrease but the doubles would increase.
If the Braves are looking for a Right handed hitting Outfielder and Japanese teams are wanting Kawakami then why not trade Kawakami for Matt Murton? That way, the Braves unload a Pitcher they don’t want, free up some salary space and add a piece they need.
Even if Murton is no more than a fourth Outfielder it beats picking up some scrub off the reject pile or an over the hill, injury plagued guy.
Matt Murton is extremely popular on the Hanshin Tigers, they won’t trade him for Kawakami.
Matt Murton is extremely popular on the Hanshin Tigers, they won’t trade him for Kawakami.
Why would the Hanshin Tigers do that? Even if it is an international trade, you still need to think about it from their perspective.
“Let’s trade our best hitter for a below average pitcher with a salary near $7M”
Man, Id love to have a good Matt Murton. If he could do for ATL what he did this year, breaking an IChiro record, then we would be set. Plus he is relatively young at 29.
I have a feeling that something big is about to take place.
I sure hope we were clearing a 40 man roster spot for a top free agent. Cross your fingers.
Well we’re going to have to protect our Rule 5 folk so that could be why they need the 40-man roster spot but I’m hoping for a big move!
I wish Fred Freeman would play LF for one or two years, then we could sign a power hitting 1b or trade for Prince/Adrian, I mean, Pujlos did it, Migel Cabrera. Dunn.. I dont see. He is definally athletic enough. What do you all think?
I think that Freddie Freeman can’t play left field…
Trading for Prince Fielder or Adrian Gonzalez would be a horrible decision. Both would require a ton of top prospects and are merely rentals. Don’t you remember the Mark Teixeira debacle? If I’m going to give up a bunch of our top prospects I would go for a great center fielder like Rasmus.
Rasmus a great cf? He is way too young to be considered a great cf, plus it wouldnt be renting if we gave them an extension.
Right… if we gave either of those guys 25 million dollars per year… that’s totally going to happen. They are rentals, get over it.
Ryan, we will have the money after next year to spend on a big free agent, chipper will be gone, and lowe. Plus anyone who wants another bad attitude guy, who cant get along with tony, has to be crazy. rasmus isnt a brave, plus without the protection of holliday, puljos, and even ludwic… Rasmus wont hit as many homers.
Lowe has two more years on his contract.
Lowe has options, not set in stone.
Why do people who have no knowledge of what the hell they are talking about, post on here??? Yeah, I’m talking to you bravefan1993.
straight from Cot’s
Derek Lowe rhp
4 years/$60M (2009-12)
* 4 years/$60M (2009-12)
o signed by Atlanta as a free agent 1/15/09
o 09:$15M, 10:$15M, 11:$15M, 12:$15M
Sir please sit down and shut up.
Sorry, I didnt look up the info. Wont happen again, thanks for straightening it out,
straight from Cot’s
Derek Lowe rhp
4 years/$60M (2009-12)
* 4 years/$60M (2009-12)
o signed by Atlanta as a free agent 1/15/09
o 09:$15M, 10:$15M, 11:$15M, 12:$15M
Sir please sit down and shut up.
Lowe has options, not set in stone.
Lowe has two more years on his contract.
Probably not on the money, we need to stockpile any money we get for arbitration raises to our bullpen, prado, jurrjens etc and save up to extend mccann and what the hell are we gonna do when heyward//freeman//teheran etc hit arbitration? (i know its not soon but damn thats not going to be fun)
How could we afford to extend a player whose on the trade market because their team can’t afford to extend them? Why would we trade for, then extend a contract for, a first baseman when Freddie Freeman — our top positional prospect — plays first base? Makes no sense.
Im saying all of this IF Freeman could play LF. And because there are more options at 1b than in LF. Im not saying we could afford. Jesus i was throwing out ideas lol.
this move must mean something BIG is gonna happen soon. I hope it isn’t a bust
I just hope the something “BIG” isn’t Pat Burrell!!!!!!!
i don’t know about big but anything involving Burrell sure would be GIANT!! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA….ummm, yeah
I love Pat Burrell, yes he was an overrated philly, but Pat is what we need, better than Andruw or Schafer. Burrell will hit at least 20, at we need that. Not many other options.
Carlos Quentin is an option for LF.
True. But ive never trusted Quentin, he just looks unstable lol.
True. But ive never trusted Quentin, he just looks unstable lol.
I’d rather sign Burrell or Andruw than trade for Quentin.
I want burrell and andruw, non tender diaz. leave quentin in Chicago.
I’d rather sign Burrell or Andruw than trade for Quentin.
Carlos Quentin is an option for LF.
There’s GM videos over at foxsports, and Wren did one. He said his top priority for an OFer is through a trade.
There’s GM videos over at foxsports, and Wren did one. He said his top priority for an OFer is through a trade.
The handling of Kawakami has been ridiculous. The dude posted a 4.35 FIP last year. Can’t blame him for having a .320 BABIP. I don’t get why there isn’t more interest in this guy, he’s a good, serviceable back-end starter who’s got one year left on his deal. And there’s no such thing as a bad one-year deal.
Since when is a 4.35 FIP in the NL at a pitcher’s park good?
That’s a 1.8 WAR pitcher in 200 innings.
I’ll take it if you don’t want it.
That’s a 1.8 WAR pitcher in 200 innings.
I’ll take it if you don’t want it.
Since when is a 4.35 FIP in the NL at a pitcher’s park good?
Kawakami, Craig Kimbrel, and Cristhian Martinez for Mark Reynolds (look at Mark’s FanGraphs page/BABIP/WAR before calling me ridiculous, PLEASE…).
Martinez isn’t really necessary for the deal, but it’d be nice to have another arm for the AZ ‘pen and we are taking a guy making $6MM who was just out-righted to Double-A…
Bam.
We need Kimbrel! He will be an integral part of our team for years to come, and is going to save us money by because we won’t have to go for overpriced free agent closers.
Well, you’re also gonna need a new third baseman sometime soon. So which do you want to have to replace, a bullpen arm or a position player?
The Braves have Chip signed for two more years, and owe him $26 million. He could possibly retire after 2011 but there is no guarantee. Reynolds is under team control for two years for $12.5 million, and has an $11 million option for 2013. Trading for Reynolds makes no sense right now, and Kimbrel has dominant stuff. I agree, we will need a third baseman in a year or two…and we can take care of that need in a year or two. No need to trade an incredibly dominant, inexpensive bullpen arm for a third baseman when we already have one. We need an outfielder, remember?
The Braves have Chip signed for two more years, and owe him $26 million. He could possibly retire after 2011 but there is no guarantee. Reynolds is under team control for two years for $12.5 million, and has an $11 million option for 2013. Trading for Reynolds makes no sense right now, and Kimbrel has dominant stuff. I agree, we will need a third baseman in a year or two…and we can take care of that need in a year or two. No need to trade an incredibly dominant, inexpensive bullpen arm for a third baseman when we already have one. We need an outfielder, remember?
Tell me your not someone wanting to aquire a 3b? Chipper Jones is the Braves third basement next year. Why give up the future braves closer for a one good year one bad year guy like mark? Plus the homers came in arizona, hell kelly johnson hit 26 there.
Chipper’s defense was already declining before he hurt his knee. Move him to first, give Freeman more seasoning, get your third baseman now so you don’t have to later.
Mark had 2.4 FG WAR last year. That is not a “one good year one bad year guy.” I told you to look at his FanGraphs page, goodness…
HitTracker exists for a reason, too. Reynolds’ average HR distance was over 415 feet. Chase Field isn’t the reason he’s hitting them.
Where is that unlike button… you obviously don’t understand our situation with Chipper. Chipper + Kimbrel > Reynolds. Team can’t win w/o Chipper & he wont move to 1st.
I’m not an expert on it, and haven’t pretended to be. But since when did I mention that Chipper had to suddenly die in order for a Reynolds-to-Atlanta trade to happen? Chipper SHOULD move to first base. He’s aging, his defense is declining, and last year ended with him in a heap at third because his knee gave in. If he wants to extend his career, he needs to be at first base.
If he’s going to be stubborn about it, then put Reynolds at first until Chipper’s already-exploded knee, other knee, back, hips, or whatever else explode, then put Mark back at third and bring Freeman up. Same difference.
Look, Chipper has one of the easiest first-ballot Hall of Fame cases ever, but it’s not because of what he’s doing now. He isn’t the same player he used to be.
We have a first baseman. His name is Freddie Freeman. He dominated AAA pitching last year, winning player of the year in the international league. More “seasoning” is not going to help. He is not a cured pork product.
You said you wanted him to suddenly die when you asked him to play 1st! No respect. Reynolds can play LF if you want him so bad. Chipper isn’t moving. He has no need or want.
Where is that unlike button… you obviously don’t understand our situation with Chipper. Chipper + Kimbrel > Reynolds. Team can’t win w/o Chipper & he wont move to 1st.
Chipper was actually having a pretty good defensive year last year. Do you remember the actual play he got hurt on? Possibly the best defensive play of his career.
Chipper had a 3.2 WAR in 95 games..keep Reynolds in AZ.
Also, it’s amazing what guys like KJ can do once BABIP regresses and Pendleton isn’t their hitting coach anymore… 🙂
I actually like the idea you just threw out, Give freeman the call when chipper gets hurt. I know Mark is a good defensive 3b im just not sure about offensie. He reminds me of frenchy.
Except that Francoeur’s worst skill was walk-taking… and Reynolds had an awesome 13.9% walk rate last year…….
Yeah I see. I mean Id like to have reynolds, im just scared if it did happen wren would give arizona the farm. And he reminds me of frenchy because of the holes in his swing.. But its possible our new hitting coach could fix them.
Mark’s had three different hitting coaches already, too. Just having stability there would help.
Yeah, and Working with Chipper Jones might straighten him out.;
Yeah, and Working with Chipper Jones might straighten him out.;
Mark’s had three different hitting coaches already, too. Just having stability there would help.
Yeah I see. I mean Id like to have reynolds, im just scared if it did happen wren would give arizona the farm. And he reminds me of frenchy because of the holes in his swing.. But its possible our new hitting coach could fix them.
Except that Francoeur’s worst skill was walk-taking… and Reynolds had an awesome 13.9% walk rate last year…….
I actually like the idea you just threw out, Give freeman the call when chipper gets hurt. I know Mark is a good defensive 3b im just not sure about offensie. He reminds me of frenchy.
not to mention moving to a park that gives them a split of
.311/.396/.580/.976 Home 16 HR
.257/.343/.411/.754 Away 10 HR
Granted its not as bad as Chris Young but still pronounced
not to mention moving to a park that gives them a split of
.311/.396/.580/.976 Home 16 HR
.257/.343/.411/.754 Away 10 HR
Granted its not as bad as Chris Young but still pronounced
I hear basements are where you keep damaged and unused goods.
?
?
I hear basements are where you keep damaged and unused goods.
Wait, I’m confused. Why is it such a big deal that he doesn’t like pitching in the Tokyo Dome? I wasn’t aware of a no-trade clause.
I’m really hoping that Kawakami gets a fresh start somewhere else. Whether it be in the MLB or back in the NPB. The most troubling part of the Braves signing Kawakami was the lack of fan support the guy had. Fans constantly bashed him and talked crap about him. True Braves fans supported him, but the casual “can’t name players besides Chipper and McCann” fans hated him. Basically, I’m glad he will get a fresh start and I’m glad the dumb racist clowns will finally leave him alone!!
Freeman did not win an MVP award, he won the equivalent of the AAA ROY.
In a league full of rookies.
some aren’t rookies to AAA…remember Mitch Jones?
Kawakami seems like a nice enough guy. I mean he even said that he deserved to be demoted last season. However, I’m a serious fan, in other words I know way more than Chipper or McCann, but I felt like Kawakami was a bad signing from the beginning. Wren laid down too much money to get an opening in the Japanese markets. He thought signing this guy was going to turn us into a destination of choice for the Japanese much like Seattle. It wouldn’t be so bad if he had followed it up with getting other prospects or postings. Did He? Nope, he thought this through about as much as he did signing Tom Glavine and giving away draft picks (Ike Davis) or trading Tim Collins for Farnsworth. Wren’s vision is very short sided. We have continually aged for the worst under Wren. We used to be the Baby Braves and now we are the Beleagured Braves. As a side note, We would be 100% better off if Chipper had retired this year. He isn’t the MVP of 1999 anymore.
I don’t think Wren signed Kawakami to open the Japanese player market to Atlanta, I think it was a reaction to the Braves lack of pitching depth the season previous. That said, I agree it has been a debacle and has allocated too much of our payroll to starting pitching, leaving us incapable of competing for quality players on the free agent market.
Wren has made some bad moves, but overall I think he is doing a very good job. He has squandered some first draft pics by signing type A free agents that we don’t necessarily need and he traded some good young pitchers in deadline deals…but he hasn’t made any of the messy, ego driven trades that defined John Scheurholtz’ last several years as the Braves GM.
Right now we are stuck relying on some mediocre veterans and cheap stopgap players, but soon this team will have more young pitching than it knows what to do with. Having a nasty bullpen is obviously a priority to Wren, and we are stocked up for years to come. Check out the Braves 2006 bullpen and remember what it was like to have an old fashioned GM at the helm.
Didn’t the Braves trade a one Horacio Ramirez a few years back for a one Rafael Soriano?? The Braves can pull the same fast one again here with Kawakami. Just not with Mariners again.
Petco could help kawakami