The Braves are looking to trade two veteran starters: Rodrigo Lopez and Kenshin Kawakami. Lopez logged 200 innings in the majors last year and teams will find his minor league contract considerably more appealing than Kawakami's $6.67MM salary.
Lopez led the National League in losses, earned runs and homers allowed last year and FIP and xFIP suggest his 2010 ERA of 5.00 was appropriate. But he logged 200 innings and struck out twice as many hitters as he walked.
The available alternatives are not inspiring, so teams looking for rotation depth could check in on the 35-year-old right-hander this month. Here are some of the clubs that could be calling the Braves:
- Brewers – GM Doug Melvin says he's making calls to determine who's available. Wily Peralta, Marco Estrada, Eulogio de la Cruz and Tim Dillard are internal candidates to start for Milwaukee.
- Rockies – The Rockies inquired on Lopez late this offseason and Troy Renck of the Denver Post wouldn't be surprised to see them check in on him again (Twitter links). Lopez appeared in 14 games for the Rockies in 2007. Esmil Rogers and John Maine are among the candidates for the Rockies' final rotation spot, which opened up when Aaron Cook broke a finger.
- Orioles – Another one of Lopez's former teams, the Orioles, could monitor Lopez's availability, though they have reason to like their own rotation candidates.
- White Sox - Phil Humber, who has started two MLB games in his career, appears to be the leading candidate to start until Jake Peavy is healthy. Lopez wouldn't be a sexy choice, but he's far more experienced than Humber.
- Indians – The Indians expressed interest in some experienced starters this winter, possibly because Fausto Carmona is the only pitcher in the Indians' projected rotation who has a 200-inning season to his name. Lopez could have appeal to the Tribe.
- Athletics – Though the A's appear set for now, they could inquire in case the combination of Brandon McCarthy, Tyson Ross and Bobby Cramer falters.
Dbacks??? lol… thier “rotation” needs depth.. I think they had enough of HRS allowed though…
Sure is some lean pickings there.. Teams probably better off with what they have internally that giving up anything for those guys.
Anaheim has equal to those players above in Daniel Cabrera am pretty sure on a minor league contract if somebody wants a pitcher who is capable of leading the league in losses and BB for cheap.. Also in in the NL get a comedy act watching him bat as well. Adam Dunn labeled him the AB “not to miss” during his time with the Nationals his approach at the plate is so pathetic.
Package them both for a low level prospect as long as the trading team pays entire salaries of both players.
If another team takes both players AND pays ALL of their salaries….it will be the Braves giving up prospects, not the other team.
The Rockies are waiting for Cook to get healthy, so I don’t see them seriously eyeing a high ERA innings eater in the meantime. Rogers will likely get 6-8 starts and if/when Cook is ready (or Maine regains his form from a few years ago in AAA) then Rogers will head to the bullpen.
Package and dump both. Kawakami is a curse.
Kawakami isn’t that bad, he’s not worth his contract, but he’s at least 4th starter level on a team with mediocre to poor pitching. The problem is he got in Bobby Cox’s doghouse for some reason.
you’d be in anyones doghouse if you sucked at baseball
In his only full season of work he had a 3.86 ERA in 156 innings. Are you really so ignorant as to think that constitutes “sucks at baseball” or are you just trolling?
Please God the Indians have already made 2 stupid moves this offseason with the signings of Durbin and Orlando Caberera which has blocked young ready talent from the major league level.
Do not let them sign Lopez he may have logged 200 innings but he also lost 16 games and had a 5 era and in the american league the era will ballon to the 6 to 6.5 range and a pitcher in the american league with that type of era will 1 never hit the 200 inning mark and is likely to lose 20 games.
Rodrigo isn’t sexy, Ben. Have you seen that mug?
Who do you think he is, Evan Longoria?
Kawakami or Lopez? I rather jump off an airplane than figure out which pitcher I wanted.
You must lead a privileged life then. Or perhaps a troubled one.