Braves Moving Quickly On Kawakami and Lowe

Mark Bowman of MLB.com has the latest on the Braves pursuit of Lowe and top Japanese starter, Kawakami. By the time the Braves make their first formal offer to Derek Lowe early next week, they may have already lured Kenshin Kawakami to Atlanta to strengthen the middle of their rotation. Multiple Major League sources confirmed Friday night that the Braves are close to completing a deal with Kawakami.Kawakami, who has spent the past 11 seasons as one of the top pitchers in Japan's Central League, is expected to arrive in the United States on Sunday. If negotiations with the Braves continue to move in their current direction, he could be in Atlanta as early as Monday to undergo a physical. The Braves met with Lowe and his agent Scott Boras at Turner Field for a little more than three hours on Thursday afternoon and manager Bobby Cox was among those who emerged impressed by the veteran hurler's intellect and character.Right now it appears the Braves are simply hopeful that the...