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Kenshin Kawakami

Brown’s Latest: Abreu, Manny, Looper

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The latest from Yahoo’s Tim Brown…

  • Bobby Abreu still wants $48MM over three years, according to Brown and Gordon Edes.  Abreu may have lost three potential suitors today in the Cubs, Rays, and A’s.  Buster Olney suggests Abreu is "probably out on the ledge, more than any other player in the corner outfield market."
  • Brown says the Dodgers, Orioles, Nationals and Mariners "seem to have the most interest in adding an outfielder." Haven’t heard much about the Orioles looking for help there.
  • Brown believes the Dodgers are "sitting on their original offer of two years and $45 million guaranteed" to Manny Ramirez.  He says Scott Boras still wants four or five years at $25MM per.
  • Starters on the Dodgers’ radar: Randy Wolf, Jon Garland, and Braden Looper.  Looper might be a new name.
  • Kenshin Kawakami is apparently "drawing solid interest from the Braves, Cardinals, Red Sox, Twins and Orioles."  It’d be surprising to see Boston sign him after getting Brad Penny.

Orioles Continue Talks Kawakami, Uehara

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Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com writes that the Baltimore Orioles are still negotiating with Japanese pitcher Kenshin Kawakami despite some reports stating the Orioles already have made their best offer.

Kubatko also lists Koji Uehara, 33, of the Yomiuri Giants as someone who interests the Orioles. Baltimore has been in discussion with Uehara’s agent, Mark Pieper.

Twins Rumors: Kawakami, Lyon, Saito, Mota

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La Velle E. Neal III of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune has the latest hot stove info on the Twins.

  • The Twins don’t appear to be currently negotiating with Kenshin Kawakami – starting pitching isn’t top priority currently.  Neal says that could change if they need to package a starter in a trade.
  • Reliever names on the radar: Brandon Lyon, Takashi Saito, and Guillermo Mota.  Lyon may be out of their price range.

Braves Still In Kawakami Mix?

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According to David O’Brien of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, the Atlanta Braves remain a possible suitor for Japanese pitcher Kenshin Kawakami.

The Japan Times has reported that Kawakami had narrowed his choices to the Baltimore Orioles, Minnesota Twins and St. Louis Cardinals. O’Brien’s report disputes this by saying he spoke Saturday with Kawakami’s agent, who said the Braves were still one of the teams Kawakami had on his list.

Kawakami Down To Orioles, Cardinals, Twins

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According to Wayne Craczyk of the Japan Times, Kenshin Kawakami has narrowed his options to three teams: the Orioles, Cardinals, and Twins.

Kawakami probably makes the most sense for the Cardinals out of those three. Baltimore isn’t near contention and the Twins already have a nice starting rotation. However, signing Kawakami could allow them to feel more comfortable about trading a young starter.

Orioles Make Final Offer To Kawakami?

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FRIDAY: The Baltimore Sun’s Peter Schmuck heard from sources that there’s little substance to the below-referenced Sanspo report.  He hasn’t heard anything about the Orioles viewing Kawakami as an injury risk.

WEDNESDAY: Patrick Newman of NPB Tracker passes along a report from Sanspo, a Japanese sports network, reporting that the Orioles have made a final offer to Kenshin Kawakami and are waiting for a response.

The Orioles reportedly have concerns about the health of Kawakami’s shoulder and are offering an incentive-laden deal, but agent Dan Evans is seeking a higher base salary. 

The O’s are also still pursuing Koji Uehara and like him as a starter.

Hendrickson, Orioles Reach Agreement

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MONDAY, 7:49am: According to Jeff Zrebiec of the Baltimore Sun, the Orioles reached an agreement with Hendrickson.  The O’s still want to add another starter.

SUNDAY, 10:26pm: Spencer Fordin of MLB.com adds information about how Hendrickson will help the Orioles. Fordin writes how Hendrickson’s presence will allow prospects more time to develop in the minor leagues.

Fordin also mentions that Baltimore has reportedly been in close negotiations to land Japanese free-agent pitcher Kenshin Kawakami.

8:59pm: Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com is reporting that free-agent pitcher Mark Hendrickson and the Baltimore Orioles are working on a deal to bring the starter to Baltimore.

The announcement, pending a physical, is slated for early this week.

Hendrickson has played with four different franchises since 2002, Kubatko wrote. The 6-foot-9 left-hander is 50-63 with a 5.07 ERA in 215 career games. He was 7-8 with a 5.45 ERA with the Florida Marlins in 2008.

Cafardo’s Latest: Pettitte, Kotsay, Red Sox

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Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe has a number of items to cover in today’s Sunday paper:

  • While the Mets are front-runners in the Derek Lowe sweepstakes, the Red Sox have a lot of money to play with having lost out on Mark Teixeira and could make a strong play to outbid competition.
  • The Dodgers and Rangers are interested in Andy Pettitte if he doesn’t accept the Yankees reduced $10MM offer.
  • Don’t rule out a return to the Red Sox for Mark Kotsay as a fourth outfielder and added infield depth.
  • Cafardo reports a source close to the talks says Teixeira was "very concerned" with Mike Lowell’s fate should he sign with Boston, but that financial matters and the negotiations process removed that "awkward situation."
  • Jose Fernandez can play first and third base. He’s 34 and just completed seven years in Japan, hitting 20+ HR every year. He could be an interesting right handed-hitting option for teams looking to add depth to their infield and DH.
  • The Red Sox, Orioles, Braves, Reds, and Cardinals remain interested in Kenshin Kawakami.
  • Now that Teixeira is gone, Jim Bowden is not interested in Manny Ramirez. Perhaps Adam Dunn?
  • The Sox are still unwilling to deal Clay Buchholz for Jarrod Saltalamacchia.

Orioles In “Serious Contention” For Kawakami

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According to Peter Schmuck of the Baltimore Sun, Orioles president Andy MacPhail "appears to be in serious contention to sign Japanese pitcher Kenshin Kawakami."  In another post, Schmuck explains why the Orioles would be pursuing a mid-rotation veteran.  Dave O’Brien recently wrote that the Braves are "squarely in the bidding," while the Twins are also in on him.  The Mets, Cardinals, and Red Sox are other suitors.

What kind of contract does Kawakami want?  The best we have is that "some teams fear" he wants to match Hiroki Kuroda’s three-year, $35.3MM deal.

Kawakami, 33, posted a 2.30 ERA and 4.48 K/BB ratio in 117.3 innings this year for the Chunichi Dragons.  He missed time with a strained back and was part of a six-man rotation.  The CHONE projections call for a 4.13 ERA (neutral park/league) for Kawakami in his MLB debut season.

What’s Next For The Braves?

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David O’Brien of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution sums up the Braves’ current known targets in his latest blog post.  As O’Brien notes, things have not gone according to plan for the Braves this winter.

  • The Braves have yet to indicate interest in Adam Dunn or Pat Burrell for their left field vacancy.  Juan Rivera might’ve been an option; he re-signed with the Angels.  Since the Braves struggled against lefties in 2008, Burrell would be a better fit.
  • They have not indicated any interest in Ben Sheets, nor have they shown serious interest in Derek Lowe.  The Braves’ #7 draft pick next year is protected, should they sign one of the two.
  • The Braves are "squarely in the bidding" for Japanese starter Kenshin Kawakami.
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