Dodgers Sign SP Hiroki Kuroda

[RedLegSuperStar]

Ken Rosenthal -

Japanese free-agent right-hander Hiroki Kuroda is on the verge of signing a three-year contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers, according to major-league sources.

Kuroda, 32, will bolster a rotation that already includes righties Derek Lowe, Brad Penny and Chad Billingsley, with Jason Schmidt recovering from shoulder surgery and Esteban Loaiza another candidate.

Financial terms of the deal are not yet known. The contract will not be final until Kuroda passes a physical.

The move, which helps the Dodgers counter the Diamondbacks' acquisition Friday of right-hander Dan Haren, is a significant blow to the Mariners, who were among the teams bidding heavily for Kuroda.

The Mariners, trying to add two starting pitchers, have spoken extensively with the Orioles about a trade for left-hander Erik Bedard. But Kuroda was a primary target for Seattle.

The Diamondbacks and Royals also had expressed strong interest in Kuroda, who was 103-89 with a 3.69 ERA in 11 seasons with the Hiroshima Carp, including 12-8 with a 3.56 ERA last season.

Several teams, including the Dodgers, were willing to give Kuroda a four-year deal. Kuroda, however, opted for three years, leaving open the possibility that he could finish his career in Japan.

Tony Jackson -

The deal is pending results of a physical examination, which Kuroda took this morning at Centinela Hospital, but it's done and believed to be worth between $36 million to $40 millon. Club officials aren't commenting for now, but two sources with knowledge of the situation confirmed the deal within the past half hour. Expecting more details later in the day, but this is a huge pickup for the Dodgers. Kuroda will fall somewhere in the middle of the rotation, probably the third or fourth spot. Ned Colletti now has filled two of the club's biggest holes (a starting pitcher and a CF) without giving up ANY of the Dodgers' young players.

[flyer85]

Supposedly that was what Baltimore was waiting on before trading Bedard. Maybe the price will be lower.

[traderumor]

I know absolutely nothing about Japanese baseball, but his ERA sure doesn't smack of dominating in a lesser league.

[RedLegSuperStar]

Originally Posted by flyer85

Supposedly that was what Baltimore was waiting on before trading Bedard. Maybe the price will be lower.

As it should be.. Haren didn't seem to cost the D'Backs to much as far as talent. Sure it depleted their system, but they also got some return for Valverde. I would hope the O's asking price doesn't start with Bruce and something can be worked out. Thing is the Reds might be in a bidding war with the Mariners and that might drive the price up.. we'll see.

[jojo]

Originally Posted by RedLegSuperStar

Thing is the Reds might be in a bidding war with the Mariners and that might drive the price up.. we'll see.

And the Ms are known to fixate on a target and essentially ignore the market in their quest to get it.

[Mario-Rijo]

Originally Posted by jojo

And the Ms are known to fixate on a target and essentially ignore the market in their quest to get it.

As long as they are willing to part with Adam Jones (Seattle's version of Bruce) the rest I'm sure will be worked out. The O's are fixated on getting that young cornerstone OF and Hamilton ain't young enough apparently.

Probably Jones, Morrow, Tuiasosopo and Chen (Just my guess).

[Topcat]

Originally Posted by Mario-Rijo

As long as they are willing to part with Adam Jones (Seattle's version of Bruce) the rest I'm sure will be worked out. The O's are fixated on getting that young cornerstone OF and Hamilton ain't young enough apparently.

Probably Jones, Morrow, Tuiasosopo and Chen (Just my guess).

If Seattle gives up Morrow besides Jones there nuts. They should be letting Morrow start this year and he was a top pick who spent little time if at all in Minors.