4:51pm: A source tells WEEI's Rob Bradford that the Red Sox are interested in Kuroda, but that their ability to sign him would be contingent on gaining financial flexibility through other moves.
2:47pm: Now that the Dodgers have effectively signed Capuano to replace Kuroda in their rotation, the landscape for the righty is "wide open," a source tells FOX Sports' Ken Rosenthal. According to Rosenthal, Kuroda is now willing to consider all offers, regardless of location.
9:12am: Yesterday we heard that the Rockies are out of the running for Roy Oswalt, but today Troy Renck of The Denver Post reports that they've been quietly pursuing Hiroki Kuroda. The right-hander is unlikely to return to the Dodgers following the Chris Capuano signing.
Kuroda, 37 in February, has pitched to a 3.23 ERA with 7.2 K/9 and 2.2 BB/9 in 398 1/3 innings across 63 starts over the last two seasons. The Angels and Diamondbacks are said to have interest in him, and the Hiroshima Carp also have an offer out to their former hurler. Kuroda prefers the west coast, but it stands to reason that the Yankees, Red Sox, Nationals, and others would have interest if he was willing to move east. The Rockies reportedly have interest in Jeff Francis and Kevin Millwood as well.
“Quietly pursuing”…Not anymore! Way to blow their cover MLBTR!
Would like to see him in NY
They need him, that rotation is a joke
Kershaw, Billingsley, Lilly, Capuano, Eovaldi…….
There are plenty of funnier jokes around the league
Gotta disagree with you on that example.
Not saying it’s one of the better rotations out there, but to call it a joke is a bit much. Now if we’re talking lineups, then I’ll be the first to agree.
We can always joke about the Orioles rotation!
Was referring to the Rockies…
ooops
I like how they are quietly pursuing Hiroki Kuroda through a combination of the art of miming, Charades and sign language. The first non verbal contract in MLB.
THE ART OF MIMING CHARADES AND SIGN LANGUAGE? WHAT KIND OF GAME IS THAT? HOW DO YOU MIME A MIME?
percentage chance he signs anywhere in MLB other than the Dodgers has to be less than 10%. hiroshima carp most likely.
Anywhere other than Angels/Dodgers = 0%.
He’s been one of the best pitchers from Japan to crossover. It’ll be a damn shame to see him leave.
Keep the talent in the majors and send Igawa back.
C’mon Brian Cashman ……. Kuroda would be a great fit in NY.
Ninja pursuit. Clever.
I dont think he will sign with tthe rox since he wanted to stay with the dodgers or go back to japan and pitch with the hiroshima carp who have already offered him a contract.
He’d make more playing here, but we know he’s very unlikely to leave the LA area. If the Angels don’t sign him, I’d say he’s going back to Japan. FWIW, the Dodgers haven’t officially said that they are no longer pursuing him. Still an outside chance, I guess.
The Angels will pay him.
Rockies kept those talks under wraps.
Rockies are in on him until it turns out that he actually wants to be paid in money rather than Taco Bell salsa packets. Won’t happen, wallets too tight.
All things equal, I’d imagine he’d choose the Angels.
He’s going to pick the dbacks!
I remember Yankees were thinking about trading for Kuroda , not to be stereotypical but if Sox get Darvish , Kuroda would be a perfect counter strike
He’s certainly the type of pitcher the Rockies have been saying they are after, and I think he profiles well for Coors with his GB/FB ratio and low walk rate.
Ben Cherington’s men are hiding in the bushes outside Kuroda’s home as we speak, ready to strike (with a two year contract + option)
Hey.. Not greedy here.. If boston can get just 1 former NPB pitcher, I’ll settle for ex Sox reliever Saito again.
I hate Ned Colletti so much right now.
Aren’t you a Carp fan?
Mike or Hiroshima?
Yeah, but from these rumors it sounds like he’s willing to stay in the US, possibly to pitch for a division rival.
i’m pretty sure i hate him worse.
I seriously doubt Kuroda would sign in Colorado, thats just me though..
A nice replacement for Lackey.
no one commented on this?
Just noticed it, but I’m not really sure how to respond other than “yeah, maybe.” Depending on what else they do in the rotation Kuroda, on a short term deal, might not be too bad.
why would Kuroda go anywhere now when he wouldn’t go to a contender for month to try to win a ring?
Nice Rockies. Kevin Millwood and Jeff Francis are sure to solve all our rotation issues….
Millwood might make a huge difference.. On some Independent league team.. In fact.. That is where he belongs with that rubbish he throws.
Millwood, if he is cheap and pitches like last year, would not stink as a #5. But I would rather the Rox fit the big pieces into the puzzle before grabbing small pieces.
Mets have gotta be in on him. I imagine he signs at well under his market value.
Why do red sox keep kidding themselves? you are the freaking yankees, quit fooling yourselves and just go out and spend its the only thing you can do nowadays anyways, well that and choke.
Bye bye Ortiz, hello Kuroda?
The note about financial troubles for Boston is interesting, sort of sets their payroll cap at the current 150 mil. If Ortiz accepts arb, putting it at 165, I wonder if they even get much starting pitching.
Agreed, i think you make several valid points, 3 of which i think are perfect for the pirates , and the last 16 points were bang on about Boston , they need him arguably more then signing ortiz and a closer , if not just for the fact of me trusting your instincts. Very insightful, looking forward to more posts in the future!
I wouldn’t do that if I were the Rox.
At least you spelled “Eric” correctly.
I wouldn’t trade Arenado. He’s not worth Wright off a down year.
It was more just a joke with a play on words. Ninja pursuit=Quiet pursuit=pursuing a Japanese player. Whatever, guess it was too complex for an online crowd.
i’m insulted as a fan that kuroda was rewarded for another solid year with the dodgers crying for kuroda to take another paycut and signing a bunch of mediocre guys to what he made last year (~12 million). I really hate this offseason for the dodgers, and the backloading is going to make it even worse next season to keep good talent if say Loney or another younger player has a breakout season. McCourt played his hand well, delight fans by extending kemp and then downsize the F out of the roster with backloading presents for the new owner included. i thought it would be hard to make the dodgers worse after extending kemp but they managed to do it
I agree with Kuroda being better than Capuano, and honestly, I would rather have Kuroda than spend the money on Rivera and Cap. But, I do not agree with your thoughts on Ellis and Kennedy. Ellis and Kennedy are a clear upgrade, offensively and defensively. Rivera and Sands should be an improvement over Thames and Gibbons. Gordon will be better at short than Carroll, anything is better than Miles at third.. The pen is young, but does not have Lance Cormier to deal with either. The two wild cards this season are The team is better this year, and these small dollar contracts leave payroll space for the new owner come the trade deadline.
If the Rockies have a great 2013, De La Rosa will be a key factor not a 39 year old Kuroda. And Nicasio > White.
Is it wrong of me to assume sarcasm? The caps makes it even harder to tell than usual.
Can always dream of the LAD when Walter O’Malley owned them..Maybe that will make Dodger fans happy.
Stole my joke… 😛
there’s much revisionist history concerning that ownership, especially since mccourt is so bad. I’m not sure he can really own a team effectively in this era. Much is different about the game now.
Couple WC, 4 D/Titles when there was no W/card, smart enough to keep one of the most brilliant general managers in the game for decades in Branch Rickey around.
O’Malley was one of the gems of owners and missed.
Wanna fide aboud it?!
Respectfully disagree.
No disrespect intended towards you.. But the original poster who predicted is… Well.. -0- others would predict that am pretty sure…
Multiple other teams it is plain already ATM to look ahead and see are superior.
Other than typing in all caps, I’ve yet to see him say anything crazy. This Rockies prediction is a little crazy. :p