Uehara once was the ace of the Giants - Japan's version of the New York Yankees - and he is considered a strike-throwing, speed-changing specialist. He has solid command of three pitches, including a fastball that ranges from 86 to 91 mph and a splitter/forkball that he often uses as an out pitch.
A two-time winner of the Sawamura Award as Japan's best starting pitcher, Uehara was moved from the rotation to the closer's role in 2007. He then struggled to begin this year and was temporarily sent to the minors. The Orioles could be a leading contender for his services because they would use him as a starter, which he reportedly prefers. They have only one pitcher, Jeremy Guthrie, guaranteed a 2009 rotation spot.
Kawakami throws a little harder than Uehara and is a couple of months younger (he'll turn 34 in June). He, too, has a large arsenal of pitches but often depends on his cut fastball to get out of jams. Some scouts question whether Kawakami, the Central League's Most Valuable Player in 2004, can effectively lean on a flat, high-80s fastball if his cutter isn't working.
Ultimately, the Orioles' interest in Uehara and Kawakami will be determined by whether the pitchers' market value exceeds the Orioles' projections. That's difficult to discern, Stockstill said, until negotiations proceed.
Last season, Hiroki Kuroda, 33, who was projected as a fourth starter in the big leagues, received a three-year deal worth $35.3 million from the Los Angeles Dodgers. He went 9-10 with a 3.73 ERA in pitcher-friendly Dodger Stadium.
"There's no way to tell right now because the market is set by the buyers," Stockstill said. "It's based on the specific needs of different clubs and how much they are willing to pay for different players."
Two other available Japanese free agents, left-handed reliever Ken Takahashi, 39, and catcher Ryoji Aikawa, 32, do not fill major needs for the Orioles and, therefore, are not considered priorities. It's also possible some Japanese players could become available via posting or other methods later this winter, Stockstill said.
Regardless of the process, Stockstill and MacPhail said the Orioles wouldn't sign a Japanese player just to make inroads into the country.
"The biggest mistake you can make is to overpay a guy simply to get into the market," Stockstill said. "There are some people that pay to get into the market. We are interested in value, and the value has to meet our needs."
