Hiroki Kuroda will pitch another season for NPB’s Hiroshima Toyo Carp, according to a report from the Sanspo news outlet (hat tip to NPBTracker’s Patrick Newman for the translation). Kuroda spent the first 11 years of his pro career with the Carp and, last winter, decided to cap off his career by leaving Major League Baseball to return to his old club. The 40-year-old seemingly picked up right where he left off, posting a 2.55 ERA, 3.66 K/BB rate and 5.6 K/9 over 169 2/3 innings for the Carp in 2015. Here are some more starting pitching items from around baseball…
- The Cardinals and Diamondbacks are both still interested in Mike Leake, CBS Sports’ Jon Heyman reports (Twitter link). Reports from yesterday indicated that both clubs were somewhat wary of Leake’s asking price.
- The Indians aren’t actively shopping any of their top starting pitchers and they’d prefer to obtain hitting help without subtracting from the rotation, president of baseball operations Chris Antonetti told reporters (including MLB.com’s Jordan Bastian). The Tribe is receiving plenty of offers and Antonetti is open to considering anything that would help the roster. That being said, Antonetti also noted that “our rotation’s been a strength of the team. So, we would be very judicious in considering trading away any one of those guys. It’s certainly not our intent. It’s not our motivation. We’re not looking to do it.”
- Cliff Lee is looking for a one-year Major League contract and his main goal is to sign with a winning team, according to Heyman (via Twitter). Lee’s upside is strong enough that Heyman predicts Lee “probably gets more than you’d think” in his next salary, despite his missing all of 2015.
- The White Sox don’t seem likely to trade any of their top starters, CSN Chicago’s Dan Hayes tweets. If the Sox do deal an arm, it will probably be a minor leaguer or a reliever.
Now that the Giants have Samardzija I think getting cliff lee would be a good move.
I can’t imagine Lee getting less then an incentive laden 7mm base
Knowing the White Sox Reinsdorf won’t want to spend money, Kenny’s ego will keep the sox chasing Justin Upton and ultimately miss, and Hahn won’t have the power to do anything due to Kenny’s presence. I feel bad for those fans..
Where does Upton play if he gets to the Sox? Having a logjam sometimes is a bad thing. KWs ego will stop him from getting Upton only because he is still young. KW will take him when he is 35 and a strikeout machine.
He would most definitely take the RF job away from Garcia that’s a simple solution and the obvious one at that. Garcia is only 24 if I’m correct so a trip to AAA wouldn’t be horrible.
Despite their major offseason need to upgrade a woefully inept lineup, the White Sox are highly unlikely to sign any of the top 3 free agent corner outfielders because of their price tags. If they did pull off a surprise, Yoenis Cespedes would be probably be the best bet because both Justin Upton and Jason Heyward:
1-Would cost them a compensatory draft pick.
2-Being younger, would command longer term commitments.
3-The White Sox have a history with Cuban players, from Minnie Minoso through Jose Abreu that also includes Jose Contreras, Dayan Viciedo and Alexei Ramirez, among others.
Btw-I also believe that if the Dodgers do wind up trading troubled Cuban RF Yasiel Puig this offseason, the White Sox would be one of the likelier destination due to their need for offense and the organization’s pitching depth, something the Dodgers would prefer back in any potential deal.
Is Kuroda the only japanese pitcher to put up better stats in MLB than Japan?
MLB: 3.45 ERA, 1.172 WHIP, 8.6 H/9, 6.7 K/9, 3.38 SO/W
NPB: 3.59 ERA, 1.250 WHIP, 9.0 H/9, 6.6 K/9, 2.88 SO/W
Cliff Lee could be with the Cardinals or Giants but San Francisco should try to get Maeda.Mike Leake is great but the Cardinals have a good rotation already so when Lynn comes back in 2017 then someone needs to get trade it, So Lee makes sense for the Cardinals if he is healthy and can pitch.
I agree francy I think this is a must do for St.Louis. I know the Cardinals had a interest in him a few times. I see him being a good fit. St.Louis always seem to like giving the veterans pitchers there 2nd chance. With Lee trying to build his name back up I think this would be a win win.
If Kenny Williams has anything to do with it the White Sox will have Jimmy Rollins. Williams has a track record for signing former league MVP’s and All Stars. Griffey, Manny, Conseco, Alomar twice, Omar, Kenny Lofton…….. I wish Jerry would let him go to Toronto and stop living in 05′. Either legitimately go for it or tear it down. I’m sick and tired of being mediocre.
A bit surprised Lee is looking for a one year deal. Very interested to see where he ends up and what kind of deal he takes. Every team in the league has to play out the “what if we get Lee for three years and things work out so we have a stud top of the rotation guy for pennies on the David Price dollar” scenario
Sox trying to trade laroche LOL
Won’t trade starting pitching -their only marketable assets
Won’t sign a free agent costing draft picks
Cespedes doesn’t want to come here
Looks like an even worse season ahead
Ventura is still the Sox manager, so even with any trades or FA acquisitions to improve this club, I’m not sure what most are expecting to occur here, but I would say expect what has occurred the last three seasons: a Mediocre performing team with no fire.
I think KW needs to go before the Sox improve. Heck maybe even a change in ownership.
1-You can add John Danks to that unlikely trade list that includes Adam LaRoche. (lol)
2-May have to trade starting pitching (Jose Quintana?) but also may have some potentially attractive assets in the bullpen (David Robertson?) and CF (Adam Eaton?) if the team feels they could extract a significant upgrade with multiple core pieces for each player. The organization might consider it with possible replacements at hand for each that would include Carlos Rodon moving up to Quintana’s spot in the rotation, Frankie Montas replacing Robertson as their future closer and Trayce Thompson taking Eaton’s position, at least for 2016.
3-Agree, they should not sign any FA’s who would cost them a compensatory draft pick, even with their first pick being protected.
4-Cespedes would come to the White Sox in a heart beat with a competitive offer and the team’s history with Cuban players that includes current slugger Jose Abreu.
5-Time will tell. (lol)
Doesn’t Danks have value as a #5 starter for another team? He should eat up a lot of innings if he’s healthy all year.
no really. his salary is out of this world for a #5 starter. sox would have to eat the majority of the money and they’ve always showed reluctance in doing just that
Puig is very interesting here for the White Sox. If it happens i see Danksy going to LA.