A look at Kenshin Kawakami

The Boston Red Sox are hot on the tails of 22-year old Junichi Tazawa to join the club, but there’s another Japanese pitcher out there that may end up serving as the Sox’s No. 5 starter in 2009.

Kenshin Kawakami, 34, is a free agent (meaning no posting fee) and reportedly has the Red Sox in his sights as the team to sign for. The Sox have mutual interest, apparently. He is a Sawamura Award (Cy Young) winner and Central MVP, winning both in 2004.

It’ll be interesting to see if the Sox pursue Kawakami. He’s been profiled as high as a No. 3 starter and as low as a back of the rotation starter. The Sox may be hesitant to commit long-term dollars to him, however.