Jan 11 2009
Braves reach agreement with Japanese right-hander
By Bud L. Ellis
braves.today.com
ATLANTA — With the exception of trading for Javier Vazquez, the Atlanta Braves have whiffed time and time again in their pursuit of pitching.
But Saturday, the Braves finally made contact with a pitcher willing to come to Atlanta in 2009 … contact on the other side of the Pacific Ocean.
The Braves reportedly have reached a three-year agreement with Japanese Central League veteran Kenshin Kawakami, inking the 33-year-old right-hander to a deal that provides the team another veteran presence to go with Vazquez in the midst of the rotation. Kawakami is to fly to Atlanta for a physical early next week, with the official announcement expected by mid-week.
Before we dive into the Japanese righty, let’s ask the big question: will the signing of Kawakami, coming off a 9-5 season with the Chunichi Dragons in 2008, and the trading for Vazquez be enough to entice Derek Lowe to sign with this team? The Braves are expected to make Lowe an offer by Monday or Tuesday, according to published reports, and Atlanta best be ready to make a substantial offer, something in the neighborhood of four years guaranteed, at $15 million per year, and maybe even through in a vesting option for a fifth year.
Adding Lowe to a rotation that includes Jair Jurrjens, Vazquez, Kawakami, and perhaps somebody named Tom Glavine, Charlie Morton, James Parr, Tommy Hanson, or Jo-Jo Reyes in the fifth spot would help soothe the battered souls of Braves Nation. The Braves still need an ace – Kawakami is not an ace; Vazquez is not an ace – and Lowe would fit that bill just right.
Let’s talk Kawakami, who won Japan’s Central League’s version of the Cy Young and the Central League MVP award in 2004, after going 17-7 with a 3.32 ERA. Kawakami doesn’t throw a blazing fastball; it tops out around 90 mph, but does have good movement. He throws a cutter that’s probably his best pitch, and his big old 12-to-6 curveball is impressive.
Braves could’ve done a lot worse, from the limited video I’ve watched of Kawakami. What I worry about is stamina. Kawakami pitched in a six-man rotation last season (which I really believe is a pretty good idea, the six-man rotation, provided you’re staff is suited for it … maybe I’ll blog about it on a slow day before spring training). He missed time late last year with a back problem, but that appears to have healed.
His best season was 2006, when he won 17 games and posted career highs in starts (26) and innings pitched (215). In 11 seasons, Kawakami is 112-72 with 1,328 strikeouts and a 3.22 career ERA.
We’ll see how those numbers, eh, translate into the majors. Apparently, factors that led Kawakami to agree with the Braves were the team’s stepped-up scouting efforts in Asia, as well as the Japanese population in Atlanta.
With Kawakami in the fold, the Braves still have to focus on finding an ace starter. Lowe is that guy. There still is the issue of the lack of power in the outfield, a hole the Braves may have to fill via trade unless the price for Adam Dunn continues to drop.
And here’s some short video of the newest Brave:
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