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Kenshin Kawakami

Odds & Ends: Webb, Mitsui, Burnett

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Some links for the afternoon…

Rosenthal’s Latest: Crosby, Kawakami, Wolf

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3:44pm: MLB.com’s Jim Street says Crosby cleared waivers.

9:00am: The word from Ken Rosenthal…

  • The A’s placed shortstop Bobby Crosby on outright waivers in the hope that some team will assume his $5.75MM salary for ’09.  After his lousy ’08, he may go unclaimed.
  • The Braves were focused on Rafael Furcal; they’re not looking to add a different infielder as a backup plan.  They still want another starting pitcher.  Dave O’Brien names some possible targets.
  • Rosenthal says some teams fear Kenshin Kawakami might want to match Hiroki Kuroda’s three-year, $35.3MM deal.
  • The Mariners would like to add a left-handed hitter with power; they’re waiting for a bargain.
  • The Rockies are apparently debating whether to sign Tim Redding or trade for Jason Marquis.  Reports in the Denver Post suggest Redding is the top target.
  • Randy Wolf is looking for $30MM over three years.  The Astros were in the $22-24MM range before pulling back.

Twins Interested In Kawakami, Uehara

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According to Joe Christensen and La Velle E. Neal III of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune, the Twins have expressed interest in Japanese pitchers Kenshin Kawakami and Koji Uehara.  The authors suggest Kawakami could allow the Twins to trade a starter, while Uehara may enter the Majors as a reliever.  The Twins’ interest in Kawakami first surfaced back on Tuesday.  Teams such as the Orioles, Cardinals, Braves, Red Sox, Mets, and Giants have also been linked to him.

Another note from Christensen: the Twins have expressed interest in Brett Tomko.

Cardinals Rumors: Fuentes, Saito, Kawakami, Uehara

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Joe Strauss of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch has the latest on the Cardinals’ hunt for pitching.

GM John Mozeliak is getting impatient with Brian Fuentes’ agents, who are waiting for the market to develop.  They might be waiting for the Angels to jump in, but that won’t happen until the Mark Teixeira situation is resolved.  Strauss says the Cardinals have offered two years and $16-18MM, and the ball is in Fuentes’ court.  Fuentes, of course, wants three years and more than $30MM.  The Cardinals are reluctant to give him the third year.

Strauss says the Cards "may investigate the availability" of Takashi Saito, though the Dodgers hope to re-sign him.  Strauss also learned that Mozeliak met with the agents for Kenshin Kawakami and Koji Uehara at the Winter Meetings.

Orioles Interested In Redding, Looper, Kawakami

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9:55pm: Peter Schmuck agrees – Pavano is not on Baltimore’s radar.  Instead, they like Redding, Braden Looper, and Kenshin Kawakami.  He says they’ve extended an offer to Kawakami.  Patrick Newman of NPB Tracker learned of two new Kawakami suitors today via a Sponichi report: the Twins and Giants.  Interesting to see the Twins linked; signing Kawakami could give them the depth to make a trade.

3:07pm: MLB.com’s Joe Frisaro says the Orioles’ main focus is Redding rather than Pavano.

1:36pm: According to ESPN’s Jerry Crasnick, the Orioles have been talking to agent Tom O’Connell, who represents free agent starters Tim Redding and Carl Pavano.  Crasnick notes that the Padres have no interest in either pitcher.  The Orioles are looking into tons of mid-rotation types.

Redding has drawn interest from the Mets and Rockies since being non-tendered Friday.  Pavano has been linked to the Blue Jays, Marlins, and Red Sox.

Mets Discussed Kawakami At Meetings

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MLB Trade Rumors has learned from a baseball source that the Mets were one of many teams to discuss free agent starter Kenshin Kawakami with his agent during the Winter Meetings.  Kawakami’s agent, Dan Evans, touched base with about half the teams in baseball during the Meetings, including the Orioles.  The Braves are also known to have interest.  The Cubs were not among those teams.

Multiple Offers For Kawakami?

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Patrick at NPB Tracker writes that Kenshin Kawakami’s agent says he’s received official offers from "more than one team."

It’s not known which teams offered contracts, but the Braves are interested and Patrick lists the Orioles, Red Sox, Angels, Giants, and Brewers as other possible suitors.

Here’s the link to the Hochi Sports article in Japanese.

Japanese Free Agent Round-Up: Kawakami, Takahashi, Saito

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Patrick at NPB Tracker has an interesting update on some notable Japanese free agents.

NBP Tracker has the source links, which are in Japanese. Kudos to Patrick for keeping those of us that can’t read Japanese in the know.

Alex Walsh can be reached at alexander.walsh@gmail.com.

Braves Interested In Kawakami

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Having lost out on A.J. Burnett, the Atlanta Braves are shifting their attention to a different candidate to fill out their starting rotation–33-year old Japanese veteran Kenshin Kawakami.

Dave O’Brien at the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports the Braves are serious contenders for Kawakami’s services. While teams like the Red Sox, Dodgers, Angels and Orioles are also in on Kawakami, "the Braves are particularly motivated to improve their rotation," O’Brien says.

Failing to sign Burnett is certainly one motivating factor, but O’Brien also mentions the increasing chance that John Smoltz does not return to the Braves in 2009.

Alex Walsh can be reached at alexander.walsh@gmail.com

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