The Dodgers have joined Seattle in aggressive pursuit of Japanese right-hander Hiroki Kuroda. Dodgers' closer Takashi Saito joined club officials in meeting with Kuroda earlier this month in Tokyo. Kuroda, who pitched for the Hiroshima Carp, is a non-restricted free agent. The Mariners have offered a three-year, $30 million deal. Arizona also has made an offer - three years and $27 million - but Kuroda wants to pitch for a team on the West Coast.

The White Sox would like to sign center fielder Aaron Rowand, whom they dealt to Philadelphia for Jim Thome, but a deal's on hold because agent Craig Landis wants to touch base with other teams during next week's winter meetings before getting serious.

Doug Melvin and the Brewers recently touched base with agent Scott Boras about free agent center fielder Andruw Jones. Melvin didn't think he'd be able to afford Jones -- and still doesn't -- but asked anyway. "I didn't get the sense we could get something done," said Melvin. That's because Jones made $14 million last year with Atlanta and even though he had an all-or-nothing year -- .222, 26 HRs, 94 RBI -- Boras will still try to get a team to pay big dollars over multiple years.

Barring some unforeseen developments, the Astros will beat out the Chicago Cubs and Colorado Rockies to sign free-agent second baseman Kazuo Matsui, a person with knowledge of the negotiations confirmed on Thursday night. Without addressing Matsui, Astros' General Manager Ed Wade stuck to his policy of not commenting on specific players until a contract is done. "We don't have a deal done with anyone," said Wade, who declined to talk about specific players. "As has been the case all offseason, when we get a deal done with someone, we'll announce it." Nonetheless, it has been no secret the Astros have coveted Matsui to the point that Wade flew to Los Angeles last week to meet with Matsui's agent Arn Tellem.

On the day the Yankees made Jorge Posada's four-year, $52.4 million contract official, the All-Star catcher didn't paint a positive picture about Andy Pettitte returning to The Bronx. Posada has been talking to Pettitte regularly and while Pettitte's agent said two weeks ago that Pettitte would have a decision on whether he pitches or not next year in December, Posada said it could be longer. ?Right now he is leaning toward retirement," Posada said of Pettitte, who had a players' option for $16 million but opted for free agency. It's believed Pettitte's choices are pitching for the Yankees or retiring. ?But he wants to play. Hopefully we will see him around February. He will make his decision in January."

Contract extension talks between the Orioles and Erik Bedard stalled yesterday, increasing the likelihood that team officials will spend part of next week's winter meetings contemplating trade offers for the ace left-hander. "We've had some conversations. We spoke again today, but I'd say that we've cooled in that area," Orioles' President of Baseball Operations Andy MacPhail said of the negotiations with Bedard's agent Mark Pieper. "We've gone on to other things. It doesn't mean that [negotiations] can't or won't be started again. It just means that they've cooled for now." MacPhail said he didn't consider the development a huge setback in the club's effort to sign a long-term deal with Bedard, who isn't eligible for free agency until after the 2009 season. He also didn't rule out the talks resuming, though none are expected to take place at the winter meetings.

David Riske, the veteran relief pitcher who compiled a 2.45 ERA in 65 games for the Kansas City Royals last season, is on the verge of agreeing to a multiyear deal with the Milwaukee Brewers, according to a club source. Riske could help the Brewers fill in the hole created by the departure of relievers Francisco Cordero and Scott Linebrink. Riske, 31, pitched in six seasons for the Cleveland Indians before going to Boston in the deal for Coco Crisp and splitting the 2006 season with the Red Sox and Chicago White Sox. Riske rebounded strongly in 2007, allowing just 27 walks and striking out 52 in 69 2/3 innings while working in middle relief for the Royals.

Troy Percival got to know Joe Maddon when he pitched for the Angels and Maddon was a coach for the same team. Assuming there are no unforeseen snags in negotiations, Percival and Maddon will be reunited in Tampa Bay next season. Sources say that Percival is close to completing a multiyear contract with the Rays.

Free-agent center fielder Mike Cameron is discussing multi-year deals with the Padres and at least one other club, according to his agent Mike Nicotera. The level of interest in Cameron means that he will not remain in San Diego on a one-year deal if the Padres, as expected, offer him salary arbitration, Nicotera says. Two of the Padres' NL West rivals, the Dodgers and Giants, are among the clubs believed to be interested in Cameron.

The Yankees are apparently willing to consider moving Melky Cabrera, who hit .291 with 58 RBI after taking over as the Yankees' regular center fielder, because they told the agent for free-agent center fielder Aaron Rowand they would have interest in Rowand if they trade Cabrera. That conversation was confirmed by a person with knowledge of the conversation who asked not to be named because the Yankees like to keep their free-agent pursuits under the radar. The agent, Craig Landis, said only that the interest in Rowand -- a strong defender who this year with Philadelphia hit .309 with 27 homers and 89 RBI -- "is strong and has picked up" since center fielder Torii Hunter came off the market, signing with the Angels. Landis said "nothing is imminent" as far as Rowand's signing.