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Kenshin Kawakami

Braves Sign Kenshin Kawakami

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4:27pm: O’Brien says now it’s about $23MM over three years.

2:02pm: David O’Brien says Kawakami gets three years, $25MM.

8:38am: A news conference is scheduled for today, so it’s safe to assume pitcher Kenshin Kawakami passed his physical and is a Brave.  We’ll add the terms of the three-year deal once they become available.  The Japanese paper Sponichi believes it’s worth $24MM, though it was written in uncertain terms according to Patrick Newman.

If the Braves are able to sign Derek Lowe, they’ll have a rotation of Lowe, Javier Vazquez, Kawakami, Jair Jurrjens, and Jorge Campillo (with Tommy Hanson knocking on the door and Tim Hudson in the second half).

Odds And Ends: Padres, Manny, Braves

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Links for Sunday…

  • John Moores will remain majority owner of the Padres for three or four years even if he agrees to sell the team to Jeff Moorad, according to Tom Krasovic. Major league executives say Padres CEO Sandy Alderson is likely to leave if Moorad takes over.
  • In a recent poll, Giants fans were divided on the idea of signing Manny Ramirez.
  • The Pirates haven’t offered Doug Mientkiewicz a contract.
  • Thomas Stinson looks at an offseason of "mediocrity" for the Braves.
  • Bobby Cox likes the looks of Kenshin Kawakami.
  • Larry LaRue asks who’s on first for the Mariners this year.
  • Joe Posnanski sees Adam Dunn and Willie Bloomquist as opposites in a way.
  • Michael Silverman compares the pre-Bronx careers of Mark Teixeira and Jason Giambi.

Derek Lowe Rumors: Saturday

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5:19pm: We’ve got a bit of a status update in Ken Rosenthal’s latest.

Fresh off closing the deal on Kenshin Kawakami, it seems as though the Atlanta Braves are the latest front runners in the Derek Lowe sweepstakes. Citing a source, Rosenthal says the Braves are "all over" Lowe. As for the team that was perhaps overtaken in this case, Rosenthal writes, "Mets officials seemed pessimistic."

Any pending offer from Atlanta is not likely to include a fourth year, according to Rosenthal. However, an offer for three years in the $40-42MM range with a club or vesting option is "one possibility."

Braves Sign Kenshin Kawakami

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2:47pm: Says Yahoo! Sports’ Tim Brown, the contract is a three-year deal.

1:43pm: David O’Brien says, "Deal is done, pending physical." Kenshin Kawakami is an Atlanta Brave.

SATURDAY, 11:34am: In the comments section of his own post, David O’Brien of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution writes:

I really think the Braves have reached an agreement with Kawakami. And not because a Japanese paper reported it.

In the body of the article, he writes that an announcement by Kawakami’s people "could come at any time."

7:45pm: MLB.com’s Mark Bowman that the Braves may have already lured Kawakami. The report says "multiple Major League sources" are confirming tonight that a deal is near completion and that this rate, Kawakami could take a physical on Monday. The report also details that the Braves are readying their first offer for Derek Lowe, which they plan to make next week. More from Bowman here.

FRIDAY, 5:00pm: This link is gaining in popularity.  It says the Braves are close to a deal with Kenshin Kawakami, but there’s still a chance he could sign elsewhere.  I do think the Braves may end up signing him but I still feel this report may be jumping the gun.

Derek Lowe Rumors: Friday

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7:45pm: Mark Bowman reports that the Braves are actually readying their first offer for Lowe, which they plan to make on Monday or Tuesday. More from Bowman here.

3:40pm: O’Brien has details on the Braves’ five-hour meeting with Lowe and Boras.  He says the Braves’ offer is expected today and they want Lowe badly.  It may require a four-year commitment.

As far as Kenshin Kawakami – the Braves are among the four finalists.  On the offensive side O’Brien suggests Adam Dunn or Xavier Nady could be targets.

9:26am: According to David O’Brien of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, the Braves met with Derek Lowe and Scott Boras for several hours yesterday.  O’Brien says the Braves’ offer was unknown, implying that they did make an offer.

O’Brien also reiterated that Boras said the Mets’ widely reported three-year, $36MM offer was never made and would’ve been far too low anyway.  O’Brien mentions the Phillies, Brewers, and Angels as other Lowe suitors, but Ken Rosenthal said those three clubs denied interest.  Brewers GM Doug Melvin said Tuesday in regard to Lowe: "We’re not in on him."

Baseball Blogs Weigh In: Red Sox, Yankees, Braves, M’s, Cards, Mets, Manny

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On this date eight years ago, Juan Gonzalez signed a one-year deal for $10MM with the Indians. The contract is significant because Gonzalez had turned down an eight-year, $143MM deal from the Tigers less than a year earlier. Four years later on this same date, Carlos Beltran would not turn down a seven-year, $119MM offer from the Mets, becoming the tenth $100MM player in Major League history. With C.C. Sabathia and Mark Teixeira already spoken for this year, there are no more $100MM players available, but there are still plenty of signings being made and many players still looking for work. Let’s gander at what is being written in the Blogosphere…

  • The Bottom Line takes a look at which prospects the Red Sox should be willing to part with in order to acquire a catcher. 
  • In Mo We Trust wonders if the Yankees would be better suited to keep both Xavier Nady and Nick Swisher.
  • When Sid Slid wonders if Kenshin Kawakami is a good fit for the Braves and feels the money would be better spent on Derek Lowe.
  • Bleeding Blue and Teal asks if the Mariners are better suited looking at a player like Eric Hinske.
  • C70 At The Bat contemplates the Cardinals’ payroll and wonders how the team can consider keeping all six of their outfielders.
  • Mets Geek breaks down the Mets’ offseason and wonders if Omar Minaya miscalculated the market.
  • El Lefty Malo is warming to the idea of the Giants signing Manny Ramirez.
  • Feeling Dodger Blue says Manny is a "must," outlining why he is worth more than just the offense he will provide.
  • We Should Be GMs chronicles the Phillie’s history of signing the "wrong brother."
  • Midwest Sports Fans breaks down the Twins’ roster and payroll and looks at who the Twins should bring in and who should be moved, arguing that the team should keep Delmon Young.

Cork Gaines writes for RaysIndex.com. If you have a suggestion for this feature, Cork can be reached here.

Braves, Orioles Eyeing Kenshin Kawakami

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11:14pm: Yahoo’s Tim Brown says the Braves were aggressive on Kawakami even before John Smoltz left, so the Japanese pitcher is in a good position.  Brown’s list of Kawakami suitors includes some new clubs.  He names the Braves, Cardinals, Red Sox, Twins, Pirates, Orioles, and possibly Yankees.

A Nikkan Sports article about Kawakami (in Japanese) has been making the rounds lately.  I asked Patrick Newman about it; apparently it says Kawakami has advanced to final negotiations with the Braves.  My guess is that this report jumped the gun.

8:34pm: Steve Melewski of MASN reports that the Orioles are still in the hunt for Japanese pitcher Kenshin Kawakami.

"The O’s remain in the mix, no question," a source told MASN. "They’ve showed a strong pursuit of Kawakami."  Baltimore has already signed another Japanese import, Koji Uehara, but are looking for more starting pitching depth.  Kawakami, 34, has a career record of 106-62 and a 3.17 ERA in Japan.  The O’s extended an offer to him at the end of December, but he’s obviously keeping his options open.  The Braves, Twins and Cardinals are also believed to have interest.

Orioles Rumors: Roberts, Uehara, Zaun, Pudge

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10:46pm: Roch Kubatko says Zaun wants a two-year deal but the Orioles prefer one year.  The O’s are also talking with Ivan Rodriguez.  Kubatko adds that Kenshin Kawakami was seeking a three-year deal.  In another post, Kubatko says the O’s have no interest in Shelley Duncan, but Richie Sexson and Ty Wigginton are possibilities for first base.  Peter Schmuck adds Nick Swisher, Ryan Garko, Billy Butler, and Ryan Shealy as trade possibilities.

Dan Connolly says the Orioles offered Brian Roberts a multiyear extension at about $10MM per, but the two sides have not made progress and Roberts doesn’t want talks dragging into the season.  Andy MacPhail said he hasn’t had trade talks for Roberts for at least a month.  As for Nick Markakis, the sides were about $10MM apart on a possible six-year extension.

11:31am: Orioles notes…

  • As you know, the Orioles reached an agreement with their first-ever Japanese player, Koji Uehara.  It’s a two-year deal worth $10MM guaranteed, with another $6MM in incentives and bonuses.  Patrick Newman offers commentary on the signing, which is not getting a ton of press in the Japanese media.  Keith Law wonders if Baltimore was a wise choice for Uehara.
  • Dan Connolly says the Orioles’ immediate priority is now to add a catcher, with Gregg Zaun and Ivan Rodriguez the candidates.
  • Peter Schmuck says the O’s are looking for a reserve infielder as well.  They’ve talked to Chris Gomez’s agent and Willie Bloomquist "might be another possibility."

Braves Rumors: Andruw Jones, Kawakami

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4:04pm: More on Kawakami from MLB.com’s Mark Bowman.  He’s apparently narrowed his focus to a small group of teams.  Bowman isn’t sure if the Braves are in that group but he says Kawakami is impressed with the organization. 

11:35am: Today we have a few rumors from John Perrotto of Baseball Prospectus.  The Braves "will likely sign Andruw Jones" if the Dodgers end up releasing him.  Perrotto also believes the Braves are in the lead for Kenshin Kawakami.

Orioles Sign Koji Uehara

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7:02pm: The two year deal is for $10MM with incentives. Says Connolly:

"His contract could be worth as much as $16 million over two years if the eight-time Japanese all-star meets certain performance bonuses and escalating clauses such as starts made and innings pitched. There is also a games-finished clause included for Uehara, who was an all-star closer in 2007 for the Yomiuri Giants, but the Orioles view him almost exclusively as a starter."

6:24pm: The contract is a two year deal. It is hinging on "specific contractual language" and a physical later this week, reports MLB.com.

2:00pm: According to Dan Connolly of the Baltimore Sun, the Orioles signed pitcher Koji Uehara to a multiyear deal (pending some contract language and a physical).  Uehara, 34, is the team’s first Japanese player.  The O’s will use Uehara as a starter and continue to pursue Braden Looper, Tim Redding, and Kenshin Kawakami.

ESPN’s Keith Law ranked Uehara 22nd on his free agent list.  His bottom line:

In an ideal environment — National League, non-hitters’ park — he could be a midrotation innings-eater because he’ll allow so few baserunners. In the American League, he’d be more of a fourth starter, but would have to have some luck keeping the ball in the park to keep his ERA under 4.00.

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