The Cubs, Rockies, Diamondbacks, and others are trying for Hiroki Kuroda, tweets MLB Network's Jon Heyman, though he could still return to Japan. ESPN's Jerry Crasnick adds the Yankees and Red Sox to the list of suitors.
The Rockies also remain interested in the Reds' Edinson Volquez, tweets Troy Renck.
It’ll be interesting to see if Kuroda would be willing to pitch in hitter friendly parks, Coors and Chase. Or if he’s willing to go as far east as Chicago.
Rockies in on (insert pitcher here).
Better for them to be in on a position they desperately need to upgrade then not at all.
depends on whether they end up on the team or not…I just find it somewhat predictable at this point–they seem to be in on every pitcher within a certain mid-level price and ability range.
In any event, at least the pitchers they are in on this year are a step above the usual retreads they are linked with in past years.
Not getting Volkie from the Reds
Why not? He’s expendable and probably not part of the rotation if the season began today.
I’ll pass on Kuroda. The Cubs have bigger needs than a mid-late-30s pitcher who wants pretty hefty money for an inconsistent career.
Maybe if the team wasoin going to compete and just needed one more pitcher, but I’d rather take Buehrle for 4 years than Kuroda for 3, when annual salaries are even.
Unless Kuroda’s in the $8-10 million range, 3 years of him would be a rough go for the Cubs, seeing as their roster is fairly old already, as it holds guys like Dempster, Wood (hopefully), Byrd, and Soriano.
They aren’t competing this year, so their focus needs to be on trimming the fat and getting younger, not keeping a similar payroll for an old pitcher unlikely to be effective once they’re competitive.
I’m sorry but how can a cubs fan say they’d pass on Kuroda? He’d easily be your second best pitcher instantly, and can be better than Garza. Cubs biggest need is starting pitching and if I were a Cubs fan I’d be all over this. And he is looking for a one year deal btw, not three.
are you serious right now? Like for Cereal and stuff?? Kuroda better than Garza? Starting pitching is not our biggest need right now, I would say Corner Infield spots are..but maybe thats just cause we dont currently have a starter for either one….
Umm no, if you listen to Theo and Jed and Dale pitching and defense is what they are going to focus on. If you notice, we just signed a starter for RF in Dejesus who is a DEFENSIVE OBP type player. Byrd is also Solid in center and could move to left if Brett Jackson or another outfielder is signed. Pitching is a big need so I don’t know what you are smoking with the corner outfield spots as the biggest need…
Kuroda is 37. The Cubs are not winning in 2012. They are probably not winning in 2013. So, what, they should sign Kuroda so they have a $13-15 million 39-year-old when they’re really likely to be competitive, in 2014?
In terms of what he is, I agree that they could use him. When you factor in that he is 37 and not going to bring something the Cubs can really use to the table until he is 38 or 39, it does not do the Cubs much good to take on that money.
I would MUCH rather see them not get a the guy who is 37 for a year they are 95% not going to be in contention for the divison and 99% not in contention for the World Series. Next season, the potential SP free agents include Cain, Marcum, Greinke, Lewis, Liriano, Anibal Sanhez, Jonathan Sanchez, Hamels, and Danks. Those guys are not as old as Kuroda, and the Cubs will be a year closer to respectability.
It’s not that I hate Kuroda. It’s that he won’t likely be doing the Cubs a whole lot of good making $13 million+ at 39, the only season he will really be making an impact on a possible playoff team.
“The Cubs have bigger needs than a mid-late-30s pitcher who wants pretty hefty money for an inconsistent career.”
Inconwha?
Kuroda’s numbers have been pretty close to the model of consistency. No standout dominant years, but nothing even approaching “not good.” The ONLY inconsistency he’s shown is that his GB% and LOB% went up a tick, but otherwise his other peripherals have been mostly improving. If he can be had for two years plus an option, most teams would be happy to add him.
I agree that the Cubs are not a smart bet for him as there’s no reason to sign him during a rebuild, but calling him inconsistent is way off base.
I’ll admit I didn’t realize how well he had stood up in his MLB career. Being in IL, I don’t get to see the Dodgers much, and I don’t follow their players a whole lot (especially ones not on my fantasy team). Kuroda’s one of the few cases where I flat-out failed to do proper homework ahead of my post.
Still, he did have about a half-run variance in FIP from 2010 to 2011 (+0.52, actually) and injury problems in 2009 (117 1/3 IP in 20 starts). At his age, he just makes no sense for the Cubs, my statistical screwup or not.
Dbacks best option is to sign Kuroda to a one year 12mil. deal. I’d love Gio because he Is under control for cheap, but we’d have to trade a top prospect most likely to get him and who’s knows what else.
yeah I’m a cubs fan and I’m all in on a kuroda signing- he’s a solid
pitcher who might be flippable at the deadline, if he agrees. he prob won’t even be
requesting anything more than a year or two at the most. the cubs aren’t
above ANY signings at this point. SOMEONE has to pitch every 5 days- he won’t be a chemistry issue, is pretty good and given his age, can prob teach the young guys a few tips.
I’d like to see the Rockies fleece Billy Beane again for Gio like they did for Cargo and Street.
Did you see what Rox gave up for that package? Beane was not fleeced, he was hoping Holliday was that bat to put them over the top but that didn’t work out so he flipped him to St. Louis.
It’s not like the Rox didn’t give anything up in that deal.
Put this guy on a team with an old catcher and you’d have yourself a Kuroded battery.
Cubs sign Kuroda, Cubs send Kuroda to the Red Sox as compensation for Epstein and I’m satisfied at this point.
How in your view would that be different than the Red Sox just signing Kuroda? Did the Dodgers offer arbitration? — in which case it would save Boston a draft pick? Otherwise, what do you see Boston getting in a sign and trade deal that they wouldn’t get by simply signing Kuroda directly themselves, Obsessions?
take a deep breath. i’m pretty sure… and i maaaay be wrong… but, i think it was sarcasm….. possibly.