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November 23, 2007

Hiroki Kuroda

From the Seattle Post-Intelligencer -

A Mariners contingent in Japan might be home by Thanksgiving Day.

Or maybe not.

And the group, headed by general manager Bill Bavasi and manager John McLaren, might be closer to an answer for the club's questionable starting pitching upon its return.

What is sure is the Mariners aren't wasting any time or expense trying to add Hiroki Kuroda as their newest Japanese import. Kuroda, a free agent after a decade in Japan's big leagues, is one of the prizes in free agency this winter, and he's close to being the Mariners' top priority.

Seattle isn't alone in pursuing Kuroda. The Rangers, Dodgers, Cubs, Phillies and Yankees are all thought to have an interest in the right-hander, who could have come to the U.S. last year but signed a four-year contract with Hiroshima.

The contract allowed him to become a free agent this offseason, and he chose to.

Kuroda has said he would prefer to play on the West Coast and remain as close as possible to Japan. That might make the Dodgers the Mariners' chief rival in negotiations.

I've read that the Royals, Mets and Tigers are somewhat high on Hiroki Kuroda as well.

Detect-O-Vision, last year, had a nice scouting report on Kuroda. It sounds better than what they once said about Kei Igawa (before he signed with the Yankees).

The scouting information, and the fact that the Yankees are interested, are probably all moot - since Kuroda reportedly prefers to play on the West Coast (and closer to Japan).

Maybe the Yankees can get creative here? Sign Kuroda, under the condition that they will trade him to the Twins (who are closer to the west than New York) for Johan Santana, with the Yankees paying most of Kuroda's salary for the first year of his deal?

Yes, I'm just kidding with that suggestion.

Posted by Steve Lombardi at November 23, 2007 03:36 PM

Comments

The scouting information, and the fact that the Yankees are interested, are probably all moot - since Kuroda reportedly prefers to play on the West Coast (and closer to Japan).
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That's hilarious. It's good to know one side of America is considered "closer" to Japan. As long as it takes to fly to Japan, I can't imagine the three hours would be a deal-breaker.

Posted by: baileywalk [TypeKey Profile Page] at November 23, 2007 05:44 PM