Jan 10 2009
Braves Sign Kawakami, Derek Lowe a Brave?
The Braves have signed Japanese free agent Kenshin Kawakami to a 3 year deal. There were talks about Kawakami landing in Baltimore, but he has endeed up in Atlanta. After losing John Smoltz, the Braves need some pitching help. The Braves are also making a run at Derek Lowe, and are presumed to be the front runners now. The Mets reportedly offered Lowe 3 years, 36 MM but Scott Boras has denied that offer and said it would have been too low had it been made. The Braves are readying an offer for Lowe, likely to be 3 years for 42 million, with no 4th year (as reported by Ken Rosenthal). I see Lowe taking this deal, and the Braves wouldn’t be doing to bad having Lowe, Vasquez, Kawakami, and Jurrgens in their rotation, and possibly adding Tom Glavine back in the mix. The Braves also have their #1 prospect in Tommy Hanson to turn too if need be.
