ATLANTA SIGNS JAPANESE PITCHER TO THREE-YEAR DEAL

The Atlanta Braves have come to terms with Japanese pitcher Kenshin Kawakami on a three-year contract. At least four other major league teams had interest in the 33-year-old pitcher, but Kawakami’s agent, Dan Evans, said Atlanta was always at the top of the list.


Kawakami spent his entire 11-year Japanese baseball career with Chunichi. After being named Central League Rookie of the Year in 1998, he went on to post a 112-72 lifetime record with a 3.22 ERA in 257 games. He led the Central League in wins in 2004 and 2006, and was the league’s MVP in 2004. Kawakami went 11-5 with a 2.30 ERA in 20 games for the Dragons last year before missing three weeks in September with a strained back.