ATLANTA — Determined to rebuild a once-proud pitching staff that has fallen into disarray, the Braves reached a preliminary agreement Tuesday on a $60 million, four-year contract with Derek Lowe and finalized a deal with Japanese all-star pitcher Kenshin Kawakami.
Lowe, 35, went 54-48 and never had an ERA higher than 3.88 during four seasons with the Dodgers. Last year, the right-hander was 14-11 with a 3.24 ERA in 211 innings.
Kawakami, a 33-year-old right-hander, becomes the first Japanese-born player in the franchise’s history.
“My pitching style is all about putting my soul into my pitches,” Kawakami said through a translator. “I hope to show that in America as well.”
Kawakami, who was 9-5 for the Chunichi Dragons last year, is not overpowering, but he has good control, an effective cutter and a slow, sweeping curve.
Former manager Gomez dies.
Preston Gomez, who managed the expansion Padres and later guided the Astros and Cubs during a six-decade career in baseball, died in Fullerton, Calif. He was 85.
Gomez never fully recovered from head injuries suffered in March when he was hit by a pickup truck while walking to his car in Blythe, Calif.
Gomez managed seven years in the majors, going 346-529 in a span from 1969 to 1980. He never had a winning season, coming the closest at 81-81 in 1974 in the first of his two seasons with the Astros.
Prior gets minor-league deal
SAN DIEGO — Right-hander Mark Prior, who has missed more than two full seasons because of shoulder problems, and infielder Chris Burke agreed to minor-league contracts with the Padres.
Prior signed with the Padres as a free agent before the 2008 season but missed the entire year after undergoing surgery on his right shoulder June 4, the latest medical setback to a once-promising career. He also missed the 2007 season after undergoing surgery on the same shoulder that April.
Footnotes.
Outfielder Jay Gibbons, who hit 121 homers in seven seasons with the Orioles but last played in the majors Aug. 12, 2007, agreed to a minor- league deal with the Marlins.
• Right-hander Koji Uehara finalized a $10 million, two-year deal with the Orioles, who also agreed to a one-year deal with former closer Chris Ray.
• The Tigers agreed to a contract with Taiwanese left-hander Fu-Te Ni.
• Outfielder Craig Monroe and catcher Miguel Perez agreed to minor-league contracts with the Pirates.
• Right-handed reliever Guillermo Mota is returning to the Dodgers, pending a physical examination.
• Former Rockies catcher Todd Greene was hired as a quality assurance coach for the Rays.
The Associated Press
