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Sources: Red Sox still interested in Hiroki Kuroda, but price may be too high 01.02.12 at 9:03 pm ET
By Rob Bradford

Hiroki Kuroda

According to multiple major league sources, the Red Sox have remained interested in free agent pitcher Hiroki Kuroda. The cost for the 36-year-old, however, figures to be out of the Sox’ price range unless the team makes another move to attain payroll flexibility, according to a source.

Kuroda is open to pitching on the East Coast, with both the Red Sox and Yankees showing some interest in the right-hander. It is a different stance from the one taken by the pitcher at the non-waiver trade deadline, when he chose to lean on the no-trade clause in his contract with the Dodgers.

The Red Sox’ unwillingness to currently expand their payroll to include Kuroda — who is reportedly looking for a deal which would pay him in the vicinity of at least $12-$13 million per season on a one- or two-year deal — would suggest the team might be taking a similar approach to free agent starter Roy Oswalt. It has been reported that the 34-year-old is willing to take a one-year deal in the right situation.

After acquiring closer Andrew Bailey, seemingly cementing Daniel Bard’s spot in the starting rotation for the time being, Red Sox general manager Ben Cherington said the team is keeping its options open regarding the starting pitching market.

“I think that the starters that we’ve considered and talked about, and in some cases pursued, are a pretty broad range of pitching options,” he said. “We’ve just felt, to this point, that the deals that we liked the best on the trade front were the [Mark] Melancon deal and now this deal. We’re going to continue to work. We’re actively considering and looking at starting pitching options also, but we haven’t found one yet where we feel like the acquisition cost is the right one. That doesn’t mean that it won’t come. It just hasn’t come yet.

“I do think our situation has been one where we can afford to be a little bit patient in the starting pitching market because of what we have at the front of the rotation. If we can find ways to build depth in the rotation, we will. We don’t feel like we’re forced into doing that. With what we have at the front of the rotation, and with Bard and [Alfredo] Aceves both coming to camp as starters and giving us options there, along with Andrew Miller and [Felix] Doubront and others who will be in camp showcasing their abilities as starters.”

Some cheaper options on the free agent market, some of whom might settle for one-year deals, include Bartolo Colon, Jeff Francis, Jon Garland, Paul Maholm, Joel Pineiro and Joe Saunders. (For a more expanded look at what is left on the free agent market for starting pitching, see this post on MLB Trade Rumors.)

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  • Paul Gram

    they never should have signned ortiz

  • Meeta’s minions

    shut up you goof…what does ortiz have to do with a 4th or 5th starter…freakin pink hats

  • JimDaytona

    Another column that says nothning we don’t already know. Why recycle this information. Please write about something we don’t know. This is what you left out of the column. If the Sox want Kuroda they will sign him without unloading salary. Plain and simple. 

  • kzone73

    hopefuly they steer clear and go after one of the less expensive, big lefties still on the market. I think Jeff Francis is a nice option and he has the potential to be a solid #4 or 5

  • Shooter8

    This headline doesn’t make any sense….They are interested—–but price may too high. Heck, you can say that about Prince Fielder as well.

  • Ted

    To even be counting on Miller and Doubront as starters is absurd. Even moving Bard to starter role is an experiment. Aceves did make some spot starts and went more than 5 innings and posted a credible ERA. The Sox gotta get serious about getting a No. 4 and No. 5 SP.

  • LA34LA34

    WHY ?

  • LA34LA34

    BRING UP A PITCHER FROM THE FARM SYSTEM, GIVE THE  YOUNG KIDS A CHANCE THEN CAN’T BE WORSE THAN LACKEY.

  • Normdubois

    You are right on!  All they’re doing is ‘talking the talk’ and not ‘walking the walk’.  They keep

    rattling off interesting names and then say they’re not within their budget.  Luxury tax or

    not, they still can can afford to get whomever they want.  Why make statements like that

    of having a platoon of Sweeney (1 hr. in 108 games and overall 14 hrs. in 1515 abs.) and

    McDonald (34 yrs. old and 236 ave.) in R.F. would represent an :”upgrade”?  Not true, even

    keeping J. D. Drew would be better.           

  • http://twitter.com/SoxLaundry Red Sox Laundry

    Last I checked they did not sign Ortiz, he accepted Arbitration, which they offered to him to get a potential draft pick had he left. That being said it is not a guaranteed deal and they can cut him. I can’t imagine they would with his production being worth way more than what 15mill will get you in FA.  

  • Paul

    The Sox are trying to minimize their luxury tax payment, that’s what signing a high dollar David Ortiz has to do with it. Just because you disagree with someone, that equates to “pink hat” status?

  • NHSox fan

    I am so sick and tired of the Sox complaining about money … seriously give me a break. I understand not going out and breaking the bank for some of these guys, but quit crying poor. I don’t mind going on the cheap, but the reason they are “poor” has nothing to do with baseball. It has to do with the stupid racing and soccer teams.

  • m34baseball

    agreed, i hope they don’t end up offering 10+ million to oswalt or kuroda (plus the 2012 draft picks they would have to surrender to the phillies or dodgers). the sox dont need an ace, just reliable depth in the back of the rotation. francis might be a good inexpensive gamble, but i feel like paul maholm would be a perfect fit and wouldn’t cost too much at all.

  • Anonymous

    Like almost all teams the Sox have players without options that have been in their system for a while like Doubrount. He’s obviously someone they don’t want to lose for nothing so currently he would be pencilled in as the # 5, perhaps A.Miller would be in the #4 slot if the season opened tomorrow. That’s not quite a rotation I would want to go to battle with but with a great pen that should be able to rescue almost any pitcher:

    Bailey, Bard, Aceves, Melancon, Morales, Jenks, Albers, Hill(when he’s healthy).

     With a threesome of Lester Beckett and Buch and two young lefties hanging in there until Opening Day I can live with that rotation.

    Plus a batting order that should be able to put up a lot of runs the Sox should be fine. We all know this will not be the team that will open the season around 4/1/12–a trade here or there, someone showing something in ST no one expected or someone having a break out spring.

  • Derek

    No one will agree with me on this, but if Jon Garland may take a one year deal at low money, I’d like to see the sox give him a chance. I know people consider him a has been, but he may surprise as a 4th starter. Yeah, I’m not saying he’ll win 20 games, but what if wins 11 or 12? As a complimentary piece to Beckett, Lester, and Buchholtz, that’s not bad,

  • Jacoby

    Simple – we use the $12 mil Papi will make on Oswalt knowing it’s much easier to find an affordable DH than stud starter.

  • Theo Epstein

    we shouild just sign him now!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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