Jenifer Langosch of MLB.com reports that the Pirates are interested in a possible trade for Braves righty Kenshin Kawakami.

Kawakami is also drawing interest in his native Japan and may opt to head home rather than play out his days in Major League Baseball. The 35-year-old turned in a 5.15 ERA and 1.49 WHIP over 87 1/3 innings this year in Atlanta, working as both a starter and reliever. If the Bucs found a way to acquire him, they would probably throw him right into the starting rotation.

According to Jason Coskrey of the Japan Times, the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks have expressed interest in Braves right-hander Kenshin Kawakami.

The Braves moved Kawakami off their 40-man roster over the weekend and are hoping to dump some of the remaining $6.67 million on his contract by dealing him back to Japan. A couple of overseas clubs have expressed interest, but talks thus far have moved slowly. Kawakami, 35, turned in a 5.15 ERA and 1.49 WHIP in 87 1/3 innings this past season for Atlanta.

Braves sent RHP Kenshin Kawakami outright to Double-A Mississippi.

The Braves are trying desperately to trade Kawakami or to sell him to a Japanese club, but so far to no avail. He's set to earn $6.67 million in the final year of his contract, and the Braves want to rid themselves of as much of that as possible. Kawakami hasn't pitched as poorly as his 8-22 record in two seasons would indicate. He wouldn't be a bad No. 5 starter option for a NL team, especially if the Braves are picking up most of the tab.

The Braves are in talks with a Japanese club about a possible trade for right-hander Kenshin Kawakami.

MLB.com's Mark Bowman says that the club from Japan is willing to take on nearly $3 million of the $6.67 million that Kawakami is owed in 2011. The 35-year-old righty posted a disappointing 5.15 ERA and 1.49 WHIP over 87 1/3 innings this past season, working as both a reliever and starter.

Making a spot-start in place of Derek Lowe (elbow) Friday, Kenshin Kawakami lasted just three innings and gave up five earned runs in a loss to the Marlins.

Everyone should have seen this one coming. Kawakami has been relegated to the bullpen for a reason and clearly wasn't prepared for this start. He walked four and threw just 39 of his 74 pitches for strikes.

Kenshin Kawakami will start in Derek Lowe's place Friday against the Marlins.

Lowe is struggling through a case of posterior elbow soreness and will be skipped for at least one start. Kawakami is expected to spend most of the rest of the season in the bullpen and shouldn't be trusted in fantasy leagues for his Friday fill-in. He has a 4.75 ERA and 1.44 WHIP on the year.

Braves recalled RHP Kenshin Kawakami from Triple-A Gwinnett.

Kawakami was shuttled to the minors on Tuesday to clear a 25-man roster spot for outfielder Nate McLouth. Now that big league rosters have expanded, the right-hander will return to his middle relief role.

Braves optioned RHP Kenshin Kawakami to Single-A Danville.

Kawakami is going to be brought back once rosters expand Wednesday. This quick roster move simply allows Nate McLouth to join the team on Tuesday night. The right-handed Kawakami will be used in relief through September.

Braves recalled RHP Kenshin Kawakami from Triple-A Gwinnett.

Kawakami posted a 4.29 ERA over five starts in the minors, however he will pitch out of the bullpen in his return to the majors. The Japanese right-hander was 1-9 with a 4.75 ERA and 57/28 K/BB ratio over 15 starts before being sent to the minors earlier this month.

Braves manager Bobby Cox said that Kenshin Kawakami will return to the team in September as a member of the bullpen.

The righty was sent down early in August to be stretched back out to start, but Mike Minor isn't going to leave the rotation unless he suffers a meltdown. "He'll pitch out of the `pen," Cox said. "We still need him, in case someone's sick or whatever. Now he's used to starting [again]."

Braves optioned RHP Kenshin Kawakami to Triple-A Gwinnett.

Kawakami is 1-9 with a 4.75 ERA and 1.44 WHIP in 16 appearances (15 outings) this season for the Braves. He's expected to serve as a starter down at the Triple-A level and could return down the line in an emergency. Top prospect Mike Minor has been promoted to the big leagues in a related move.

Kenshin Kawakami will be demoted to Triple-A Gwinnett on Monday in order to clear a roster spot for top pitching prospect Mike Minor.

Minor will draw Monday's start against the Astros and should be added in nearly every mixed fantasy league. Kawakami, meanwhile, will make about four starts down on the farm and will be reevaluated for a possible early-September return. The Japan native has a 4.75 ERA and 1.44 WHUP this season.

Kenshin Kawakami will head to the bullpen when Jair Jurrjens is activated from the disabled list on Wednesday.

Saturday's brilliant outing wasn't enough to save his spot in the starting rotation. Kawakami is 1-9 with a 4.48 ERA over 15 starts this season. His transition to the bullpen means that Kris Medlen will remain in the rotation. The 24-year-old right-hander started the season in the bullpen, but is 4-0 with a 3.40 ERA in nine starts this season.

Kenshin Kawakami allowed just one run on two hits over seven innings of one-run ball in a 4-3 win over the Tigers on Saturday.

Finally. It took a dramatic three-run home run by Chipper Jones, but Kawakami finally got off the schneid. Not only was it his first win of the 2010 season, it was his first win since last August 31. He held the Tigers to two meager singles while striking out six and walking three. Kawakami has been extremely unlucky this season, but today's outing probably won't be enough to save his spot in the rotation with Jair Jurrjens expected to return from the disabled list next week.

According to an Atlanta Journal-Constitution report, Kenshin Kawakami appears resigned to moving to the bullpen.

"Being a starter, I'm not really doing my job right now, so I'm ready for anything that is coming," Kawakami said. "The team is playing well so whatever role I'm given I'll try to do my best." Manager Bobby Cox said that Kawakami would make his next scheduled start, but the club would then decide if Kawakami or Kris Medlen will move aside when Jair Jurrjens returns. Kawakami is the first starter in club history to start 0-9.

Kenshin Kawakami didn't factor into the decision despite shutting out the Diamondbacks for six innings on Wednesday.

It's hardly all cruddy pitching that's resulted in Kawakami's 0-8 record. He could help himself by working deeper into games, but the Braves didn't score until the eighth tonight and then Peter Moylan gave up two runs in the bottom of the inning. Kawakami has a 4.48 ERA through 12 starts.

Kenshin Kawakami dropped to 0-7 on the year by allowing three runs over six innings against the Marlins on Tuesday night.

He struck out two and allowed no walks and seven hits. Kawakami has failed to complete seven innings in any start this season and now sports a 4.93 ERA. He has as good a chance as any to get his first win of the season this weekend at home against the Pirates. Don't look at him as a fantasy option right now.

Kenshin Kawakami fired six shutout innings Wednesday against the Reds.

It was his strongest start of the season to date. Kawakami fanned five batters and allowed only one walk while lowering his ERA to 4.98 and his WHIP to 1.41. He's still winless this season -- 0-6, to be exact -- but hopefully he can ride the momentum and change that next week against the Marlins.

Kenshin Kawakami dropped to 0-5 on the year by allowing three runs over five innings against the Nationals on Tuesday night.

Kawakami was knocked around for seven hits -- including two homers -- while striking out one and walking none. He currently has an ugly 5.47 ERA to match his 0-5 record. He has failed to complete seven innings in any of his five starts this season. Don't look towards him as a fantasy option right now.

Kenshin Kawakami surrendered five runs -- four earned -- over 4 1/3 innings Wednesday as the Braves fell to the Cardinals.

The Cards have won the first three games of the four-game series and will try for a sweep on Thursday afternoon. Kawakami didn't look comfortable on the hill or with the strike zone, allowing four walks to lift his WHIP to 1.50 on the year. He's not helping fantasy teams right now.