grandsalami wrote:

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JonHeymanCBS Jon Heyman
#redsox have definite interest in kuroda, who seeks $13-14M salary. reports out of japan say he will pitch in US this yr

With the luxury tax, it's more like $17 - $18 million.

I guess it comes down to a question the Sox owners need to ask themselves.

How many games is Kuroda vs Doubront/Miller/Cook/Silva worth?  (Alright, I didn't count Aceves because I really believe he does belong in the bullpen and that the Sox pen does need him).

If Kuroda pitches 200 innings and keeps an ERA around 4 and the others combine for around 6, that's about 40 - 50 runs - not too mention, less stress on the bullpen.

To me that's roughly a 4 - 6 win difference?

Is it worth it for the Sox?  about $3 - $4 million per win?

I would think so, given that they won 90 last year, and finished a game behind Tampa and that their collapse started with the rotation not giving quality performances or innings, and I think there was a ripple effect that killed the bullpen as well.  And there is money to be made going to the post-season and having a team that can go deep once it gets there.

A rotation of Beckett/Lester/Buchholz/Kuroda/Bard could be solid all around and the Sox would have decent insurance with Doubront and Daisuke coming back.