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Hiroki Kuroda

Odds and Ends: Tazawa, Boras, Cuban

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Links for Tuesday…

Odds and Ends: Bedard, Teixeira, Longoria, Durham

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Rounding up today’s links…

Odds and Ends: Doue, Furcal, Kuroda

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Here are today’s links.

Dutton On Royals’ Free Agent Starter Search

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I recently named the Kansas City Star’s Bob Dutton as Rumor Royalty for the Royals.  He was kind enough to answer a few questions for the site.

MLBTR: It seems pretty clear the Royals are going to sign a veteran starter.  They’ve been linked to Bartolo Colon, Jon Lieber, Kris Benson, and others who have signed elsewhere.  Who do you see as the best fit for this team?

Dutton: The guy they really wanted was Hiroki Kuroda, and I’m pretty sure they tendered the top bid before he signed with the Dodgers. They liked Carlos Silva but not at his asking price. That leaves, primarily, guys who are trying to recover from major injuries. In short, guys who really aren’t good fits for anyone.

Even so, I think the Royals will continue to try to sign one. I believe Colon is their top choice, but he’s asking for $8-9 million and is looking for a multi-year deal. I think he’s kidding himself. Maybe someone will bite, but I’ll be real surprised if the Royals do.

The Royals are like most every other team looking at these guys: they’re willing to build in lots of performance bonuses, but they’ll want to protect them by insisting on a low guarantee. What they can offer that others can’t, they believe, is the likelihood of greater patience.

These guys all need to pitch to rebuild their careers, and they’re likely to have some rough stretches. The Royals would probably be willing to stick with them longer than most other clubs. They also play in a fairly big ballpark, which is forgiving to fly-ball pitchers, and have pretty good infield defense to benefit ground-ball pitchers.

Dodgers Sign Kuroda

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UPDATE, 12-15-07 at 6:26pm: Crasnick has an update: it’s for $35-36MM over three years.  So he’s no bargain.  $35.3MM, to be exact.

UPDATE, 12-15-07 at 3:52pm: Ken Rosenthal checks in, noting that the Dodgers and other clubs were willing to go to four years on Kuroda but he preferred three.

UPDATE, 12-15-07 at 2:25pm: Tony Jackson of the L.A. Daily News reports that the Dodgers have signed Kuroda to a three-year deal worth between $36-40MM, pending a physical.  The Dodgers will go with Brad Penny, Chad Billingsley, Derek Lowe, Kuroda, and Jason Schmidt if he’s healthy.  Esteban Loaiza might have to move to the bullpen for now.

UPDATE, 12-15-07 at 11:32am: Dylan Hernandez of the L.A. Times says Ned Colletti had multiple conversations with Kuroda’s agent yesterday, and the two sides made "significant progress."  The Dodgers still appear to be offering three years and $30MM.  Hernandez adds that Arizona continued talking to Kuroda’s agent as well – the addition of Dan Haren apparently doesn’t diminish their interest.

FROM 12-14-07 at 9:50pm:

After all the ruckus about Hiroki Kuroda earlier this week, his agent said today that he still has not reached a decision.  The decision is "very close," and may come by the end of the weekend.  The Mariners, Dodgers, Diamondbacks, and Royals have offers out.

No word yet on whether the D’Backs will pull their offer after snagging Dan Haren.  I know they’re going with the three-year payroll plan, so they can probably still fit Kuroda in.

Dodgers In Lead For Hiroki Kuroda?

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UPDATE, 12-12-07 at 10:05pm: Still no clarity on the Kuroda situation.  MLB.com’s Ken Gurnick notes Japanese reports indicating Kuroda has signed with the Dodgers, but Ned Colletti is still awaiting word from his agent.  Here’s Tony Jackson’s update; he says pretty much the same.

UPDATE, 12-12-07 at 1:40pm: Jerry Crasnick checks in, noting that Kuroda is visiting his California-based agent.  They’ll go over the four offers they have in hand.

UPDATE, 12-12-07 at 8:56am: If the Diamondbacks are out of the running for Kuroda, they haven’t been informed of it.  Tony Jackson of the L.A. Daily News wrote early today that Kuroda was on a flight to L.A. – either indicating he is doing his recruiting tour or he signed with the Dodgers.  Jackson believes the latter is the case.

UPDATE, 12-12-07 at 8:21am: The Kyodo News, found via RotoWorld, reports that Kuroda has chosen the Dodgers and he informed his former team on Tuesday night.  The signing could be announced today.

UPDATE, 12-11-07 at 11:18pm: Geoff Baker tells us all to calm down.  Kuroda hasn’t made his decision yet, though the Dodgers and Mariners remain the frontrunners.  Baker believes it might take several days to reach a conclusion.

UPDATE, 12-11-07 at 9:17pm:  Tony Jackson of the L.A. Daily News has some info.  He says that Kuroda is strongly leaning towards the Dodgers and the decision is due soon.  Jackson verifies that Kuroda has cancelled his U.S. trip and will choose between the Dodgers and Mariners.  The presence of Takashi Saito may be a big point in the Dodgers’ favor.  But this deal is not done yet. 

FROM 12-11-07 at 8:10pm:

Just got a good tip that Hiroki Kuroda has chosen the Dodgers.  At least, that’s the word out of Japan – Ned Colletti and Co. aren’t fessing up to anything yet.  It definitely seems that the D’Backs are out of the mix.  Kuroda apparently cancelled his U.S. tour and will make his decision from home.  He may choose the Dodgers over the Ms despite L.A. offering a bit less. 

Rosenthal’s Latest: Santana, Cabrera, Kuroda, Edmonds, Rolen

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Ken Rosenthal checks in with the latest hot stove buzz around baseball.

  • Johan Santana is Boston’s only target – they’re not after Dan Haren or any other starter.  The talks keep slugging along.  For what it’s worth, Curt Schilling expects the Red Sox to get him.
  • 36 year-old first baseman Alex Cabrera is a sleeper power threat among free agents.  The former Rockie, Cub, and Diamondback has been mashing in Japan since 2001.  The Nationals don’t have any room for him but want him anyway.  Rosenthal says A.L. clubs are looking at him as a DH candidate, also.  Cabrera hit .295/.377/.512 with 27 HR in 441 ABs in Japan in 2007.
  • Hiroki Kuroda has not reached an agreement with any team, according to Rosenthal.
  • The Padres are still considering Jim Edmonds as a center field candidate.
  • Here’s a new one: the Indians expressed interest in Scott Rolen.  The talks have cooled however.
  • Rosenthal says the Astros don’t think they will get Miguel Tejada.  Instead they’ve moved on to…Ron Mahay and Jeremy Affeldt.

Royals Still Want Kuroda; Could Turn To Silva

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Bob Dutton of the KC Star has the latest Royals buzz, as usual.

The Royals are being aggressive trying to win an unlikely bid for Hiroki Kuroda.  They might even send Trey Hillman to Japan to make a last-minute pitch.  The Dodgers currently lead for Kuroda, who will decide from Japan rather than take a U.S. tour.

Plan B for the Royals is said to be Carlos Silva, but not at a price higher than four years and $40MM.  That probably won’t cut it for Silva, who can probably get an additional $10MM or another year elsewhere.

Mariners Leading For Kuroda?

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John Hickey has an update on Hiroki Kuroda this morning.  It seems the Mariners, Dodgers, and Diamondbacks are competing for his services.  Kuroda only wants a three-year deal, giving himself a chance to go back to Japan for the 2011 season if he chooses.  According to Hickey, "Kuroda’s final decision will be between the Dodgers and the Mariners."

  • Mariners: Hickey thinks they’re in the lead with a three-year offer in the $33-36MM range.  The rumors of a four-year offer were false.
  • Dodgers: They’re at 3/30 and are considered the Mariners’ biggest competition.
  • Diamondbacks: Hickey says they’re also close to 3/30 but on the fringes, which might imply his source was not aware of their recently improved offer.

It seems Kuroda will make a decision within a week or so.  Maybe by then the starting pitching market will start moving.

D’Backs Improve Offer For Kuroda

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Originally the Diamondbacks came in at three years and $27MM for coveted Japanese starter Hiroki Kuroda.  That wasn’t going to cut it.  Nick Piecoro reports that they’ve improved their offer, adding money to the last two years but not increasing the term.

Jon Heyman suggested on Thursday that Kuroda could require as much as $15MM annually.  That’s a far cry from $9MM a year.  My guess is that the D’Backs improved their offer to three years, $36MM or so.  Thoughts?

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