Braves make offer to Japanese right-hander

Dana Point, Calif. — While the Braves continue discussions on a possible trade for San Diego ace Jake Peavy, they also made an aggressive offer to a pitcher on the other side of the Pacific Rim.

The Braves were the first major league team to make an offer to 22-year-old Japanese free agent Junichi Tazawa, a hard-throwing right-hander also being courted by Boston, Seattle and the Chicago Cubs.

“It’s an exciting opportunity,” said Braves general manager Frank Wren, who said a Braves scout made a multi-year offer to Tazawa during a meeting in Tokyo on Sunday.

Wren saw Tazawa pitch three times in September in Japan, and a Braves scout saw him pitch two weeks ago for his industrial-league team in a tournament in Brazil.

“We think he has the potential to be a major league starter,” said Wren, adding that Tazawa would need some minor-league seasoning. “We’re looking at him being with us for a long time [if he signs].”

The Braves’ offer reportedly included a major league contract, which would give Tazawa a spot on the 40-man roster and major league spring training camp.

Tazawa wanted a major league contract, and it wasn’t known whether other teams pursuing him would offer one. Wren said the Braves hoped to have a decision from Tazawa in two weeks.

One major league team official said Tazawa was similar to the Braves’ Tim Hudson “with a better curveball.” Tazawa has a mid-90 mph fastball, a split-finger pitch and a big curveball.

Tazawa is an unusual case in Japan, because he made it known that he didn’t want to be drafted by a Japanese professional team and instead wanted to go pitch in the United States.

All 12 Japanese pro teams passed on him, so now he’ll get his wish.