In an previous report for the New York Post, Mark Hale wrote that the Mets had ‘legitimate interest’ in Kuroda, and even reached the ‘second round of bidding,’ but, ‘as it turned out,’ they were ‘not one of the four finalists.’

…as i wrote then, the buzz around kuroda had long been that while the Royals, Mets and Cubs had interest, he had every intention of pitching with a team on the West Coast…

According to a past report from MLB.com, the Mets, Mariners, Dodgers and D’Backs, among other teams, had offered Kuroda a three-year contract, each worth around $30 million.

At Mike Pagliarulo’s Dugout Central, Will Hoover projected that Kuroda would likely have a mid-5.00 ERA through 160 or so innings, during roughly 30 starts for a major-league team.

…as i had been writing for a while now, the buzz around kuroda had been that he’ll seek around $45 million…i assume that’d be for four years, but maybe it’ll be over three…

Last week in the New York Post, Mark Hale wrote that the Mets once had ‘legitimate interest’ in Kuroda, and even reached the ‘second round of bidding,’ but, ‘as it turned out,’ they are no longer ‘of the four finalists.’

…additionally, the buzz around kuroda has long been that while the Royals, Mets and Cubs may have interest, he prefers to pitch on the West Coast…though they said the same thing about Kei Igawa, last off-season, who ended up pitching for the Yankees…

According to MLB.com, Kuroda is seeking a four-year deal.

For more on Kuroda, check out ArmChair GM.

By the way, Japanese free-agent OF Kosuke Fukudome told the Associated Press on Tuesday that he will sign his next contract with a team in MLB.

…it was sounding like a forgone conclusion from people in Nashville that he would eventually sign a deal with the Padres or Cubs, though i suspect his official decision to play in America may now draw in a few new teams…

…the buzz around kuroda has long been that while the Royals, Mets and Cubs may have interest, he prefers to pitch on the West Coast, but not because of reasons associated with weather…no, i have no idea what that means either…i’m thinking it may have something to do with marketing, or television time in Japan…

According to the LA Daily News, the Mariners, Dodgers and D’Backs have all offered three-year contracts worth roughly $30 million to Kuroda, adding that the Dodgers and Mariners appear to be the favorites.

Yesterday, at MLB.com, Jim Molony wrote that the Mets have made a similar offer, but Kuroda is seeking a four-year deal.

Meanwhile, according to Dan Graziano in the Star-Ledger, citing ‘a person close to those discussions,’ yes, the Mets had interest in Kurudo, but they were ‘too late to that party.’

Nevertheless, in a post to his blog for the Sporting News, Gerry Fraley writes that M’s officials are ‘getting nervous about their chances,’ because ‘the Mets have entered the picture.’

According to a recent report from Yahoo! Japan, Kuroda is believed to be seeking roughly $11 million per season.

For more on Kuroda, check out ArmChair GM.

…frankly, i put very little stock in to what omar says in public, so this may or may not be true…nevertheless…

According to Kat O’Brien, at her blog for Newsday, the Mets and Yankees are among several teams who have talked with free-agent RHP Luis Vizcaino, who is seeking a four-year, $19-million contract.

Earlier today, at MLB.com, Jim Molony wrote that free-agent Japanese RHP Hiroki Kuroda could sign with the first team to offer him a four-year deal, adding that the Mariners, Mets, Dodgers and D’Backs are all offering him three years and $30 million.

According to a recent report from Yahoo! Japan, Kuroda is believed to be seeking a four-year, $45 million contract.

According to the Daily News, though, the Mariners have offered a fourth year to Kuroda, who could act as a starter or reliever.

…for what it’s worth, i recall hearing that the D’Backs have interest in kuroda, as well…

…as i noted this afternoon, there is more and more buzz coming from Nashville suggesting that the Mets are seriously considering Livan Hernandez…

Earlier today, citing ‘a source,’ MLB.com reported that the Nationals may be willing to give Hernandez a two-year deal.

According to the New York Times, both Minaya and Hernandez’s agent have stated publicly that they intend to speak with one another soon.

Lastly, Steve Popper of the Bergen Record is reporting that Minaya will meet with the agent’s for Octavio Dotel and Shawn Chacon tonight.

…lastly, there is very minimal buzz suggesting that the Mets may have inquired about Cubs RHP Mark Prior, who is said to be drawing interest from the Padres, among others…

Street writes that the Mariners, Mets, Dodgers and D’Backs are all offering him three years and $30 million.

According to a recent report from Yahoo! Japan, Kuroda is believed to be seeking a four-year, $45 million contract.

According to Hale, ‘the Mets advanced to Round 2 of the bidding process.’

The Mariners are also pursuing Kuroda, reports that Seattle Post Intelligencer, while offering a four-year deal worth $44 million.

Recently at Prospect Insider, Jason A. Churchill offered up a very detailed and complete scouting report on the 32–year-old Kuroda, writing…

“Kuroda profiles as a No. 3 at best…He’s slow to the plate but has a relatively compact and clean delivery that gives his fastball some late life.”

At Mike Pagliarulo’s Dugout Central, Will Hoover projects that Kuroda will likely have a mid-5.00 ERA through 160 or so innings, during roughly 30 starts for a major-league team.

With regards to potentially switching and pitching from relief for the Red Sox, Hoover says, “They already have similar production at a cheaper price in the form of Julian Tavarez.”

More pertinent to the Mets, the Post Intelligencer also reports that the Mariners have interest in Baltimore LHP Erik Bedard, and will meet with the Orioles on Tuesday.

The Mariners could offer a competitive package of prospects, including OF Adam Jones, RHP Brandon Morrow and C Jeff Clement.

…so, really, who knows where bedard negotiations are at this point…the O’s seem to be pulled in a lot of different directions…

Hiroki Kuroda

By the way, the D’Backs offered salary arbitration to Hernandez, meaning any team who signs him must surrender a supplemental first-round pick to Arizona.

Meanwhile, in the Daily News, Roger Rubin writes that the Mets should also consider free-agent RHP Bartolo Colon, who Omar Minaya once traded for while working for the Expos.

Accordint to a recent report from Yahoo! Japan, Kuroda is believed to be seeking a four-year, $45 million contract, and will soon make an announcement about whether he intends to sign with a team in Japan or MLB.

For more on Kuroda, check out ArmChair GM.

…the heavy buzz from the west coast has long favored the Dodgers and D’Backs, when it comes haren and blanton – with names such as Carlos Quentin and Matt Kemp repeatedly being mentioned…

In the New York Post, Mark Hale talks with A’s Assistant GM David Forst, who says his club has still yet to decide on whether to trade Blanton or Haren.

…as i wrote yesterday, there is more and more buzz out of Oakland suggesting that the A’s will not seriously field offers for haren until the Twins make a decision on Johan Santana…once santana is set, the A’s will first consider moving haren, but oakland may look to acquire a pitcher more like John Maine, instead of Mike Pelfrey or Aaron Heilman, because they want a semi-established, zero-to-three starting pitcher…if they get no movement on haren, oakland may next consider moving Joe Blanton, who is still arbitration eligible, and essentially the type of pitcher they hope to get, not trade away, in a deal for haren…

Contract extension talks between the Orioles and Erik Bedard stalled yesterday, explains Jeff Zrebiec in the Baltimore Sun, ‘increasing the likelihood that team officials will spend part of next week’s winter meetings contemplating trade offers for the ace left-hander.’

According to Zrebiec, the Mets recently offered a package of Carlos Gomez, Phil Humber and Aaron Heilman to get Bedard, but were turned down.

Similarly, in a recent update for FOXSports.com, Ken Rosenthal writes that the Padres have had internal discussions about trading this year’s Cy Young winner, Jake Peavy, ‘but the deal would need to be heavily weighted in their favor.’

According to Peavey’s agent, writes Rosenthal, the Padres and Peavy would like to agree on a long-term deal, but there is pressure to pay him along the lines of what CC Sabathia and John Santana may get, which is something the Padres have been historically unwilling to do.

…thanks to MLB Trade Rumors for the link, and translation…

Mark Hale, in the New York Post, recently wrote that the Mets have had interest in Kuroda.

The following day in Newsday, David Lennon noted that the Mets had been scouting Kuroda, while playing in the Asia Series in Japan.

Recently at Prospect Insider, Jason A. Churchill offered up a very detailed and complete scouting report on the 32–year-old Kuroda, writing…

“Kuroda is the class of the three free agents and will get the most interest but he profiles as a No. 3 at best…He’s slow to the plate but has a relatively compact and clean delivery that gives his fastball some late life…Considering the domestic market, Kuroda, even at 33 years old, could command a contract in the $9-11 million range, for at least three years.”

At Mike Pagliarulo’s Dugout Central, Will Hoover projects that Kuroda would likely have a mid-5.00 ERA, through 160 or so innings, during roughly 30 starts for a major-league team.

With regards to potentially switching and pitching from relief for the Red Sox, Hoover says, “They already have similar production at a cheaper price in the form of Julian Tavarez.”