Japanese newspaper Asahi Shimbun reports that Kenshin Kawakami has reached an agreement with the Chunichi Dragons and a deal should be announced soon.

The report was translated by NPB Tracker's Patrick Newman. Kawakami dealt with shoulder issues with the Braves this past season and wound up posting an 8.86 ERA over 18 games in the minors. Obviously, the three-year, $23 million deal he signed prior to the 2009 campaign didn't work out so well for Atlanta.

Braves general manager Frank Wren said Tuesday that Kenshin Kawakami is having more shoulder problems with Double-A Mississippi.

Kawakami missed nearly two months earlier this season with a right shoulder strain and is now sidelined with is being termed "shoulder irritation." The Japanese right-hander has an ugly 7.20 ERA across six starts and four relief appearances at the Double-A level this season. He's currently in the final year of a three-year, $23 million contract.

Kenshin Kawakami has been placed on the disabled list with Double-A Mississippi due to a right shoulder strain.

Kawakami allowed nine runs on 15 hits -- including three home runs -- over 10 2/3 innings in his first two starts with the club. He's owed $6.67 million this season in the final year of his contract.

Kenshin Kawakami will make his first start for Double-A Mississippi on Monday.

In Double-A because the Braves don't envision calling him up this season, Kawakami posted a 3.75 ERA and 1.25 WHIP in 12 spring innings. The Braves have received inquiries from a number of Japanese teams as to Kawakami's availability, but he has said he will not accept a trade overseas. He is owed $6.67 million this season.

Braves assigned RHP Kenshin Kawakami to Double-A Mississippi.

The Braves are sending him to Double-A because they want the Triple-A rotation open to pitchers who could have an impact in the big leagues at some point this season. Kawakami is owed $6.67 million this season and the Braves are still trying to find a taker.

Kenshin Kawakami yielded three runs in four innings Sunday in his start against the Phillies.

Not the kind of outing Kawakami needed in order to impress potential suitors. The Braves would eat a portion of the $6.7 million he's owed in order to move him, but it doesn't look like any teams are burning up the lines at the moment.

Kenshin Kawakami made his spring debut Friday with a scoreless inning against the Yankees.

He walked the first batter he saw but rebounded to retire the next two hitters after Brian McCann threw out Justin Maxwell trying to steal. Kawakami was late in getting to spring training due to visa issues, and he's likely to start the year in the minors if the Braves are unable to find a trade partner.

Kenshin Kawakami is expected to make his Grapefruit League debut by the end of the week.

Kawakami was late reporting to camp due to visa issues. The Braves are still trying to find a suitor for the Japanese right-hander, who is owed $6.7 million in the final year of his contract.

Kenshin Kawakami is expected to begin workouts Wednesday.

Kawakami had been held up by visa issues in his native Japan, but he apparently solved them recently and will arrive state-side late Tuesday evening. The Braves will probably have him throw on flat ground Wednesday morning then move him along to bullpen sessions.

Kenshin Kawakami is expected to arrive at Braves camp within the next few days.

Kawakami's arrival has been stalled by visa issues back in his native Japan. He has made strides with the process in the last few days and should begin participating in workouts by this weekend or early next week. The righty will be battling for a long relief gig.

Kenshin Kawakami has still not arrived in Braves camp due to visa issues.

The Braves said Tuesday that they expected the Japanese import to arrive within a few days, but he's yet to show up and GM Frank Wren said he has nothing new to report on the situation. They're still hoping to find a trade partner for the right-hander, but the odds of that happening have obviously decreased.

Kenshin Kawakami's arrival to camp has been delayed by a passport issue in Japan.

The Braves are expecting that everything will be cleared up in a couple of days. Kawakami was shopped heavily on the trade market this offseason and might still be dealt this spring, but he'll be in camp for at least the first couple of weeks. The right-hander posted a 1-10 record, 5.15 ERA and 1.49 WHIP over 87 1/3 innings last year.

Ken Rosenthal of FOXSports.com reports that two Japanese clubs are willing to acquire Kenshin Kawakami and cover more than half of his remaining $6.67 million salary.

Rosenthal speculates that the Yankees could be a match for Kawakami as they search for help in their starting rotation, but the Braves have been talking trade with Japanese clubs for months now. The Braves would not get a player in return if they trade him to a Japanese club, but they would probably be pretty satisfied with a little salary relief. As of now, Kawakami is off the 40-man roster and is likely to begin the season at Triple-A Gwinnett.

Kenshin Kawakami has been invited to join the Braves at spring training.

Two years into a three-year deal with Atlanta, Kawakami has not come close to justifying his $23 million contract. His demotion to Triple-A Gwinnett last August was indicative of the lost season, in which he scratched out a 1-10 record, 5.15 ERA, and 1.49 WHIP. He will compete this spring for a bullpen spot and a chance at redemption.

According to Rob Biertempfel of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, the Pirates are trying to see whether the Orioles or Pirates would pick up more of Kenshin Kawakami's salary in a potential trade.

Kawakami is owed $6.67 million in 2011, so whoever is willing to pick up more salary will likely up with him. The 35-year-old right-hander went 1-10 with a 5.15 ERA over 87 1/3 innings with the Braves this past season, but he has been a victim of some bad luck since arriving stateside. The AL East isn't an ideal landing spot, but a fresh start may help.

Dejan Kovacevic of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette hears that the Pirates are still to the Braves about Kenshin Kawakami.

The Pirates have less of a need after signing Scott Olsen and Kevin Correia this week, but they'll listen. Kawakami is owed $6.67 million in 2011, so the Braves will have to eat a significant portion of his salary in any trade.

Dan Connolly of the Baltimore Sun heard from a source Tuesday that the Orioles are not going to acquire Kenshin Kawakami from the Braves.

The Orioles' reasoning is unknown, but it probably has something to do with the nearly $7 million that Kawakami is owed in 2011. Oh, and the 1-10 record and 5.15 ERA that the right-hander posted in 87 1/3 innings this year for Atlanta. He may have some offers from teams in his native country.

Dan Connolly of the Baltimore Sun reports that the Orioles have spoken "several times" with the Braves about Kenshin Kawakami.

The Pirates had a bit of interest in acquiring Kawakami, but they've acquired both Scott Olsen and Kevin Correia in the last 24 hours and have now grown cold on the Japenese right-hander. The Braves are probably going to have to eat a good chunk of the $6.67 million owed to Kawakami for a deal to work with Baltimore. The 35-year-old finished 2010 with a 5.15 ERA.

According to the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, the Pirates' interest in Braves righty Kenshin Kawakami may be cooling.

The Bucs have reached deals with both Kevin Correia and Scott Olsen in the last 24 hours and no longer need to take a risk on Kawakami, who is owed $6.67 million in 2011 and posted a 5.15 ERA over 87 1/3 innings this year. The Braves are desperate to move him, but talks so far have not run smoothly. Rob Biertempfel of the Tribune-Review hears that the O's might have interest.

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution's David O'Brien think the Braves might have to eat $5 million of Kenshin Kawakami's $6.67 million salary to trade him, but they're willing to do "whatever it takes" to make a deal happen.

Kawakami would be a good get if the Braves are basically just going to give him away. He wasn't nearly as bad last year as his 1-10 record would indicate and would be a definite upgrade to many rotations. The Pirates and Brewers both reportedly have interest in the right-hander.