Kenshin Kawakami Wants to Be a Red Sox

[BoSox21]

Japanese hurler Kenshin Kawakami, who is set to become a free agent after the season, reportedly wants to pitch for the Red Sox.

The Yankees and Mets are among the teams believed to have scouted Kawakami, a soon-to-be 33-year-old right-hander. Kawakami just missed qualifying for free agency last year. Had he made the jump then, he might have received a contract similar to Hiroki Kuroda's. He has the weaker fastball of the two, but he has an outstanding track record.

Rotoworld

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Kawakami has spent his entire career with Chunichi; last years Japan Series champions. He has a career ERA of 3.29, 326 walks to his 1216 strikeouts in 1525 inning pitched. Keep in mind this is all through 2007, not including his numbers from this year. He's missed a few weeks this season due to an undisclosed illness, but recently returned to the team. He won the 1998 Central League Rookie of the Year award after going 14-6 with a 2.57. In addition he has a no-hitter under his belt and in 2004 won the Central League MVP award as well as the Sawamura (NPB equivalent of the Cy Young award). Obviously, success in NPB doesnt necessarily translate to the States (see Kei Igawa), but I don't want the Red Sox to get their hands on him.

http://www.japanesebaseball.com/play...?PlayerID=1026

[Anuj09]

The only Japanese starting pitcher the sox should consider getting is Yu Darvish and thats only if he wants to come to the States.

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I can't fucking wait until Darvish makes the move. Whether he asks to be posted or comes over as a free agent in 4 years, it will inevitably happen, and he very well could be AMAZING

[BoSox21]

yea, I saw that article on him on ESPN.com. interesting prospect