Hiroki Kuroda

[ctcf]

Phil Rogers of the Chicago Tribune reports that the Cubs are interested in free agent right-hander Hiroki Kuroda.

It's not surprising, as Cubs President of Baseball Operations Theo Epstein tried to trade for Kuroda at the July trade deadline when he was with the Red Sox. Kuroda is not expected to return to the Dodgers after they signed Chris Capuano, but he also might decide to return to Japan. If he does remain in the majors, there's sure to be a good number of teams interested in him.

 

Per Rotoworld. Yes please.

[davell]

Good. He's the perfect fit. Very solid pitcher and no long term commitment. When Theo talks about building the right way, but putting a team that can be competitive out there every year, this is the exact type of signing he means. I didn't realize we tried to sign him back in 2007, before he came over here. Personally, I'd rather sign Kuroda than either Wilson or Buehrle and go after the big FA pitching next year.

[Ski]

I thought he said he'd only stay with the Dodgers or go back to Japan, or is that some other Japanese player?

[Guest]

Kuroda at 1 year + option would be a very nice addition, although I'm curious as to what that would mean for the rest of the rotation. While he is a nice get, he's neither a long term addition or a guy with a lot of upside. He'd be a better decision if there were more open rotation spots, like if Garza and Zambrano were traded.

[davell]

I thought he said he'd only stay with the Dodgers or go back to Japan, or is that some other Japanese player?

He DID say he wanted to play only for the Dodgers or Angels at one point, but he's evidently wide open now after he's learned some about the whole free agency process.

[Clem Fandango]

I thought he said he'd only stay with the Dodgers or go back to Japan, or is that some other Japanese player?

 

No that was the rumor, but yesterday it was reported he'd be willing to sign with other teams...

 

According to Ken Rosenthal of FOXSports.com, Hiroki Kuroda is ''considering all options,'' including signing with another MLB team regardless of location or returning to Japan to pitch for the Hiroshima Carp.

The Dodgers signed Chris Capuano to a back-loaded contract on Friday, which essentially rules out a potential return for Kuroda. Earlier on Saturday it was reported that the Rockies are in ''quiet pursuit'' of the Japanese right-hander while the Red Sox, Tigers, Diamondbacks and Yankees have shown interest in acquiring him in the past. His former club in Japan also remains an option, though it's unlikely they would be able to compete with his major league salary.

[davell]

Kuroda at 1 year + option would be a very nice addition, although I'm curious as to what that would mean for the rest of the rotation. While he is a nice get, he's neither a long term addition or a guy with a lot of upside. He'd be a better decision if there were more open rotation spots, like if Garza and Zambrano were traded.

I kind of think the opposite. Sign him and Bedard, get Fielder and Headley. Offseason over and you've got a team that has a shot at the playoffs. Big money comes off the books again the following year, replace Kuroda with a big FA arm and maybe grab a 2nd one as well, with money from Dempster/Z. Offense still needs some help, but a trade for one other bat and you're basically there. On the other hand, if you DO trade Garza, he's a decent stopgap to where you can still throw a team out there with a chance to compete.

[Guest]

Kuroda at 1 year + option would be a very nice addition, although I'm curious as to what that would mean for the rest of the rotation. While he is a nice get, he's neither a long term addition or a guy with a lot of upside. He'd be a better decision if there were more open rotation spots, like if Garza and Zambrano were traded.

I kind of think the opposite. Sign him and Bedard, get Fielder and Headley. Offseason over and you've got a team that has a shot at the playoffs. Big money comes off the books again the following year, replace Kuroda with a big FA arm and maybe grab a 2nd one as well, with money from Dempster/Z. Offense still needs some help, but a trade for one other bat and you're basically there. On the other hand, if you DO trade Garza, he's a decent stopgap to where you can still throw a team out there with a chance to compete.

 

DeJesus/Castro/Fielder/Soto/Headley/Soriano/Byrd/Barney

Garza/Dempster/Kuroda/Z/Bedard

Marmol/Marshall/Wood/Samardzija/Russell

 

That team is just a slightly better version of the team we've seen the last few years, where we need things to break our way at 5 different spots to make the playoffs. It would have the depth to keep from collapsing like this year's team, but considering that you're potentially sacrificing MLB development for Cashner, Jackson, Samardzija, and Wells, it's not a good enough team for me to make those decisions. You need to add multiple stars to compete next year, not Fielder and a group of more certain 2 win guys.

[Clem Fandango]

Kuroda at 1 year + option would be a very nice addition, although I'm curious as to what that would mean for the rest of the rotation. While he is a nice get, he's neither a long term addition or a guy with a lot of upside. He'd be a better decision if there were more open rotation spots, like if Garza and Zambrano were traded.

I kind of think the opposite. Sign him and Bedard, get Fielder and Headley. Offseason over and you've got a team that has a shot at the playoffs. Big money comes off the books again the following year, replace Kuroda with a big FA arm and maybe grab a 2nd one as well, with money from Dempster/Z. Offense still needs some help, but a trade for one other bat and you're basically there. On the other hand, if you DO trade Garza, he's a decent stopgap to where you can still throw a team out there with a chance to compete.

 

DeJesus/Castro/Fielder/Soto/Headley/Ramirez/Byrd/Barney

Garza/Dempster/Kuroda/Z/Bedard

Marmol/Marshall/Wood/Samardzija/Russell

 

That team is just a slightly better version of the team we've seen the last few years, where we need things to break our way at 5 different spots to make the playoffs. It would have the depth to keep from collapsing like this year's team, but considering that you're potentially sacrificing MLB development for Cashner, Jackson, Samardzija, and Wells, it's not a good enough team for me to make those decisions. You need to add multiple stars to compete next year, not Fielder and a group of more certain 2 win guys.

 

Is that supposed to be Soriano?

[Guest]

Yes, thank you.

[davell]

TT, I agree with everything you just said. But I look at putting that team out there with the idea you've got lots of cash falling off again after the season is over with the main emphasis being put on 2013, not 2012 anyway. If we catch lightning in a bottle, then great. If not, you've got the money available and the pitching that's going to be out there, to make a huge splash next offseason.

[Guest]

TT, I agree with everything you just said. But I look at putting that team out there with the idea you've got lots of cash falling off again after the season is over with the main emphasis being put on 2013, not 2012 anyway. If we catch lightning in a bottle, then great. If not, you've got the money available and the pitching that's going to be out there, to make a huge splash next offseason.

 

Then why sign Kuroda? If you're just hoping you catch lightning in a bottle in 2012 with a push towards 2013, the rotation future of Cashner, Wells, even Samardzija are more important than the 1-2 marginal wins(if any) that Kuroda provides.

[davell]

TT, I agree with everything you just said. But I look at putting that team out there with the idea you've got lots of cash falling off again after the season is over with the main emphasis being put on 2013, not 2012 anyway. If we catch lightning in a bottle, then great. If not, you've got the money available and the pitching that's going to be out there, to make a huge splash next offseason.

 

Then why sign Kuroda? If you're just hoping you catch lightning in a bottle in 2012 with a push towards 2013, the rotation future of Cashner, Wells, even Samardzija are more important than the 1-2 marginal wins(if any) that Kuroda provides.

I agree on Shark, disagree on Cashner and Wells. That said, I think Shark is better suited for the pen myself. Although I understand if he's a frontline starter, he's much more valuable than any role he'll ever have in the pen. So, use him as your long guy in this scenario. He'll work his way into some starts with injuries anyway. I want nothing more than for Cashner to be a starter, but I don't see him as one in 2012. He needs to build his arm strength back up. Hell, if you want to give him a few starts late in the year, I'm all for it. Whether it's at AAA or in the majors is dependent both on where he is and the team is as well. As far as Wells goes, I don't look at him as an answer for us or being in our longterm plans whatsoever. And I could be wrong there. But I think 2011 is him, not 2009/2010.

[Derwood]

People assume Japanese players want to stay on the west coast because it's a shorter travel time to fly back to Asia.

[Little Slide Rooter]

TT, I agree with everything you just said. But I look at putting that team out there with the idea you've got lots of cash falling off again after the season is over with the main emphasis being put on 2013, not 2012 anyway. If we catch lightning in a bottle, then great. If not, you've got the money available and the pitching that's going to be out there, to make a huge splash next offseason.

 

Then why sign Kuroda? If you're just hoping you catch lightning in a bottle in 2012 with a push towards 2013, the rotation future of Cashner, Wells, even Samardzija are more important than the 1-2 marginal wins(if any) that Kuroda provides.

I agree on Shark, disagree on Cashner and Wells. That said, I think Shark is better suited for the pen myself. Although I understand if he's a frontline starter, he's much more valuable than any role he'll ever have in the pen. So, use him as your long guy in this scenario. He'll work his way into some starts with injuries anyway. I want nothing more than for Cashner to be a starter, but I don't see him as one in 2012. He needs to build his arm strength back up. Hell, if you want to give him a few starts late in the year, I'm all for it. Whether it's at AAA or in the majors is dependent both on where he is and the team is as well. As far as Wells goes, I don't look at him as an answer for us or being in our longterm plans whatsoever. And I could be wrong there. But I think 2011 is him, not 2009/2010.

 

Wells is a guy who's great to have when you don't have to pay him much. He's under team control through 2015 and we could do a lot worse at the back end of the rotation. However, if someone offered us anything of value for him I'd do it without thinking twice.

[Tracer Bullet]

People assume Japanese players want to stay on the west coast because it's a shorter travel time to fly back to Asia.

 

Or bc this Japanese player said so recently.

[Butterscup1679666578]

The Japanese website Sponichi reports that the Yankees have offered Hiroki Kuroda a one-year, $12 million contract.

Now that Kuroda has said he's willing to pitch away from the West Coast, there are a bevy of teams interested in his services. The 36-year-old is reportedly asking for $12-13 million per season, though he should be able to get a multi-year deal if he wants. The Red Sox, Cubs, Rockies and Diamondbacks are also reportedly interested.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

The Japanese website Sponichi reports that the Yankees have offered Hiroki Kuroda a one-year, $12 million contract.

Now that Kuroda has said he's willing to pitch away from the West Coast, there are a bevy of teams interested in his services. The 36-year-old is reportedly asking for $12-13 million per season, though he should be able to get a multi-year deal if he wants. The Red Sox, Cubs, Rockies and Diamondbacks are also reportedly interested.

 

2/$24? If we miss out on Darvish, sure.

[Butterscup1679666578]

or not...

 

Bryan Hoch of MLB.com reports that the Yankees have not made an offer to free agent right-hander Hiroki Kuroda.

The Japanese website Sponichi previously reported that the Yanks have offered Kuroda a one-year, $12 million contract, but evidently that might not be the case. It would certainly make sense that they would pursue Kuroda in their quest to upgrade pitching, but perhaps they're considering a bid on Yu Darvish and want to see how that plays out first.

[Little Slide Rooter]

Per MLBTR, Kuroda is close to signing with someone. It's not the Mariners, D Backs, Rockies, Rangers, Red Sox, or Yankees.

[javy knows my name]

If we sign him...I'll be kind of confused

[treebird]

If we sign him...I'll be kind of confused

 

theo is going to hold out for his non-union mexican equivalent (senor kurodo) and pay him 900 dollars to pitch for us next season and give us -4.5 war while sneaking the payroll in just under 100M.

[javy knows my name]

If we sign him...I'll be kind of confused

 

theo is going to hold out for his non-union mexican equivalent (senor kurodo) and pay him 900 dollars to pitch for us next season and give us -4.5 war while sneaking the payroll in just under 100M.

 

That makes more sense

[MWV]

theo is going to hold out for his non-union mexican equivalent

La ineficiencia del mercado nuevo.

[Guest]

If we sign him...I'll be kind of confused

 

Kuroda, Fielder, and someone like Edwin Jackson leaves you about one unexpected surprise from a playoff spot. I don't think that's the plan, but it could be.