Kenshin Kawakami?

[marty22]

Seems like Kawakami's name pops up as a candidate to be moved among braves fans when they discuss their "surplus" of starting pitching. He's at a 3.98 ERA on the year, 4.22 FIP, and his ERA has improved to 3.43 in the 2nd half (9 starts, 13 total appearances). His contract is also not prohibitive: 6.67 MM each of the next 2 years. Essentially he's Looper's contract with better numbers, and in my opinion perhaps a little bit of upside; although he's 34, it's his first year in MLB and he's shown imrpovement in the 2nd half after a shaky start. Here are his ERA's by month:

 

April: 7.06

May: 3.03

June: 3.33

July: 4.87

August: 2.87

September: 3.00

 

 

When Braves people talk about him, they sound like the cost wouldn't be very high, as they feel they just can't afford to pay a 6th starter, and basically just want to get rid of him. I have a hard time coming up with a match for the braves...maybe Hart for Kawakami and Jeff Locke or Jordan Schafer, although this leaves us without a RF...like I said I'm having a hard time with finding a match. Thoughts?

[Hate those Rodents]

I'm not real high on this guy. Rather than give up something of value, we should just go with the same staff as this past year and pray they can pitch much better. But I wouldn't expect KK to do much to improve our starting pitching and certainly wouldn't give up Hart for him.

[nate82]

Kawakami would become the 2nd best pitcher on the Brewers staff. With a FIP of 4.24 only Gallardo has a better FIP than that on the Brewers. Hart only had a WAR of 0.7 and we only have Hart for next year so trading Hart for a pitcher that the Brewers would have locked up for the next few years compared to 1 year of Hart. I'm sorry but I am taking that all day long.

 

At worst Kawakami would be Looper with a better ERA. The only bad month Kawakami put up was in April and that was his first time through MLB he will only get better. Yes he is not a hard thrower but he also doesn't walk that many guys and still has 111 K's so far this year with only 55 walks. I don't know who you would expect to get Hart in return for but it is not going to be anyone better than Kawakami.

 

Hart for Kawakami is probably not even enough for the Braves to move Kawakami though. If it would take more than Hart and a B/C type prospect then I wouldn't do it. But if it is Hart and Dykstra/Axford for Kawakami I would be fine with it. There are plenty of players the Brewers could get to platoon with Gerut in RF if they wanted to go out and get someone. Byrnes would actually be a good platoon player with Gerut if the Dbacks just release Byrnes that is.

[Hate those Rodents]

I can be convinced on this I suppose. Just not nuts if he's only a slight improvement over Looper. I really think we need to get a #2 and a #3 starter and he sound like a #4 at best. I have watched him pitch twice only however. I know Doug will make a move and hopefully two moves to pump up our starting rotation. I just hope he goes after the right guys.

[jackalope02ca]

I haven't been paying attention this year like I normally do but better yet what is availalbe to sign coming out of Japan as a free agent this year. Just sign the next Kawakami instead of moving assetts for him.

[JohnBriggs12]

Kawakami is not a bad idea. His numbers across the board are those of a solid #3, not a #4 as Hate those Rodents suggest and he keeps the ball in the park pretty well which I think the Brewers see as a priority.

 

I think the Brewer strategy realistically is to add two #3's, one through trade and one through FA and hope one pitches like a #2 like Pineiro and Marquis did this year. I like how the Brewers match up trade-wise with Texas myself. Texas could lose Byrd to FA (Byrd is an excellent target for Brewers too if they deal Hart), and the guy I think would target is Brandon McCarthy, who's got 2-3 stuff and is younger but who's had a variety of injuries but is now healthy. His numbers look like a #4, but that's in the AL. I think he'd do very well in the NL.

[Hate those Rodents]

I agree that for us, he is ahead of Bush and Parra and would be a #3. As far as his numbers across the board being of a playoff team's #3.........................................I'm not looking at the right numbers. But I agree that he could help us some.

 

And just to show I am not always against you JB, just recently it seems we have had differing opinions on possible targets, I really like the idea of going after McCarthy.

[pingman]

I've suggested Kawakami in other threads so I'll chime in again....

 

Kawakami is better than his numbers.....he had a "tired arm" in spring training that slowed his start to the season, as another poster indicated in his stats.... he's pretty darn good & he eats innings ....IMHO he'd be a #3 starter for the Brewers, assuming Parra regains his form....

 

....he's owed $7.333 million for both 2010 & 2011 before becoming a free agent in 2012....he's 34 but has never had any serious arm problems.....

 

As a Braves AND Brewers fan, I think a Kawakami for Hart trade would be fair....although I don't think the Braves want Hart because they'll probably go with Jason Heyward in RF (with McLouth in CF & Diaz in LF)....the Braves will probably only resign one of their two free agent relievers, Soriano & Gonzalez...therefore I think they'll ask for Coffey, to fill a bullpen need, & a prospect in return....