Looks like Frank Wren can multitask. While dealing with the post-Smoltz flak and meetings with Derek Lowe, Wren was able to reach an agreement with Japanese Cy Young pitcher Kenshin Kawakami. He is currently in Atlanta undergoing a physical, as confirmed by Wren this morning on 790 The Zone. Kawakami has pitched in Japan's Central League for 11 seasons, winning the league's Sawamura Award (Cy Young) and MVP awards in 2004 after going 17-7 with a 3.32 ERA. Wren believes he should have won the Sawamura in 2006, and I'm inclined to agree, when he went 17-7 with a 2.51 ERA over 215 innings. Last season he posted a 2.30 ERA in 16 starts, missing nearly three weeks with a strained back. While his numbers and experience surely point to a pitcher who could make a great impact in our depleted rotation, let's hope his injury problems of last season are completely a thing of the past.Our rotation currently looks like Vazquez, Jurrjens, Kawakami, Campillo, and one of many fighting for the fifth spot (including Tom Glavine should he prove to be healthy, and get re-signed..). The Braves appear ready to make a formal offer to Derek Lowe early this week as well. Without Lowe, our 2010 rotation could be Hudson, Vazquez, Jurrjens, Hanson, Kawakami. Which doesn't sound bad at all. In fact that could be our rotation come August. And while it would be nice to land Derek Lowe, I think we may actually have enough arms to keep us afloat until the trade deadline (coughpeavycough). The main thing holding us back would be the offense, which still has glaring holes all over the outfield and middle of the order. Let's hope Frank Wren has had "power hitter" on his multitasking list as well.
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