Before Hiroki Kuroda signed with NPB’s Hiroshima Carp last week, he had an American suitor other than the New York Yankees – the San Diego Padres. Because let’s be honest here, there’s one thing the Padres *haven’t* done during their insane winter – acquire a top-tier starting pitcher. According to Jeff Sanders of the San Diego Union-Tribune, the Padres were serious about signing Kuroda before his decision went the other way.
The Padres were making a serious push to sign Hiroki Kuroda before the 39-year-old right-hander opted to return to Japan last week, a team source said. While a report that the Padres’ offer was as high as $18 million, topping pushes by both the Dodgers and the Yankees, may have been “a little high,” the source said, the team’s interest in another one-year buy further illustrates Preller’s intention to win now.
All bets are off when dealing with the Padres now. Who in the hell knows what’s next for them? Trading prospects for Matt Kemp, Wil Myers, and Justin Upton is one thing, but offering eight figures to a starting pitcher who will be 40 next month is something different. That tells me that San Diego isn’t just blowing smoke – they want to compete right here, right now, and don’t care what they have to do in order to get there.
Even without Kuroda, the Padres have a pretty solid rotation featuring Ian Kennedy, Andrew Cashner, Tyson Ross, and Odrisamer Despaigne, with Josh Johnson (likely), Brandon Morrow, and Brandon Maurer all looming as possible fifth starter options (or very effective bullpen pieces). I’m not ready to call the Padres favorites in the division, or even contenders, but they’re vastly improved from a year ago, and will surely make some noise in the NL West.
