48-year-old Kimiyasu Kudo has decided to retire.

Kudo has also posted an update on on his blog, thanking fans for 30 years of support.

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Career Stats

Awards

MVP: 1993, 1999

Best Pitcher: 2000

Best Nine: 1987, 1993, 2000

Golden Gloves: 1994, 1995, 2000

Nippon Series MVP: 1986, 1987

All-Star Game Selections: 1986-1987, 1991, 1993, 1995, 1997, 1999-2000, 2004-2005

Kimiyasu Kudo informed reporters on Saturday that he was thinking about accepting the managerial job with the Yokohama DeNA Bay Stars.  Kudo added that as part of accepting the job, he wanted the team to consider a number of conditions like enhancing the training staff (maybe 5-6 trainers during spring camp) to make sure players got the care they needed in order to avoid injuries.

He also said that he did not have any plans to be a pitcher/manager, was not sure when he would officially retire (the Bay Stars have not asked him to retire), and already gave the team his thoughts on coaching staff personnel.

The Yokohama Bay Stars have offered the managerial job to 48-year-old Kimiyasu Kudo.

Kudo admitted to reporters today that an offer was made and that he will be make his decision after speaking to his family.

UPDATE 12/3 @ 12:42am - It does not appear as though Kudo is thinking about being a pitcher / manager.

UPDATE 12/3 @ 4:05am - Sanspo is carrying the following comments from Kudo:

Did you receive an offer for the managerial position?

I can not say.  I can say that a number of people having been contacting me.

Nothing has come directly from team owner [Makoto] Haruta?

Yes.

But the team plans on making an announcement early next week.

I am sure more we will know more tomorrow or the day after.

Team owner [Makoto] Haruta has confirmed the offer.

There must be a number of candidates.

We think they have it narrowed down.

So does that mean I am the only one that got contacted?

Do your feel honored?

Well, yes, of course.

Will you continue to pitch?

Am I not allowed to continue pitching?

[Does that mean] you can not provide an answer right away?

No, I can not.

Will you be having a family meeting soon?

I can not really say.  It depends on everyone's schedule.

About the offer...

I am grateful.  But I need some time to think.

Comments Kimiyasu Kudo has been offering to the media over the last couple of days (Monday and Tuesday):

• On Tuesday, Kudo said he would never tell a pitcher to change his mechanics (like going from throwing overhand to throwing from the side) because it was akin to asking a right-handed person to start using their left hand and because forcing such drastic changes could deliver a blow to a player's confidence.  And if the players fails, maybe they will be more inclined to step away instead of trying to drag things out.  Kudo also stressed the importance of playing hard, regardless of the score.
• On Monday, Kudo said he thought coaches should be licensed.  "Coaches need to have the ability to teach people.  Players that never attended baseball clinics when they were active should not be allowed," said Kudo.  He then continued, "If they are not capable of teaching kids in an effective manner, then they will not be able to teach professional players.  The team can only become strong once you can put effort into teaching the things you learned."

UPDATE 9:37pm - Additional comments (Wednesday):

• More than the mangers and coaches, the trainers, BP pitchers, and catchers all have to be "facing the same direction" otherwise the team will never win.  And batters and pitchers need to talk to each other about their weaknesses.  He also said he would retire if offered the managerial job with Yokohama.
• Suggested that pitchers should take good batters out to dinner in order to ask for some insight on their weaknesses.  Kudo recalled how he went out to eat with players like Hatsuhiko Tsuji, Hiromichi Ishige, Hiroki Kokubo, and Nobuhiko Matsunaka in order to get their opinions.
• Conditioning was more important that coaching, as in, trainers needed to get more involved and make sure players are ok.  Their job is to help prevent injuries before they happen.

Kimiyasu Kudo attended a public radio recording in Yokohama on Sunday and said that he plans to decide within a week whether or not he will retire.  When asked about the possibility of becoming the Bay Stars' next manager, Kudo said, "As a former Yokohama player, I want to see them get stronger.  I have not received an offer, but if something does come along, I would like to make an announcement.  Encounters can be really important."

In speaking to reporters on Saturday about the possibility of becoming manager of the Yokohama Bay Stars, Kimiyasu Kudo said, "Having a veteran presence is important.  Just having [veteran players like] [Takeshi] Yamasaki, [Masahiro] Yamamoto, [Tsuyoshi] Shimoyanagi and [Tomoaki] Kanemoto on the team is helpful.  They can continue to play into their 40s because they did what they were supposed to.  I [would] want them to tell the younger players to run [more].  [They should not mind if] another coach is right in front of them.  How [the young players] react will become the difference in their development."

Kudo even so far as to say that teams should not mind paying a veteran 50M yen just to have them around.  He also recounted how he used to round up younger players after practices in order to get them to do some shadow pitching.

Sponichi is reporting that DeNA may be prepared to offer Kimiyasu Kudo the managerial job as soon as they gain approval to purchase the Yokohama Bay Stars on 12/1.  And that fits right in with Kudo's timeline -- he told reporters recently that he wanted to make a decision on whether or not to retire before the end of the month.

Sanspo adds that DeNA may also be looking into 56-year-old Mitsuo Tatsukawa as a head coach candidate.

Daily Sports notes that Kudo was probably selected over Masumi Kuwata because of the three seasons he spent with the Bay Stars.  They also mention that the Ichi-gun coaches that weren't dismissed along with Takao Obana on the 22nd (batting coach Yoshikazu Takagi, pitching coach Atsushi Kizuka, and batting coach Hitoshi Nakane) stayed because of their past ties with the team.

Incidentally, Kudo threw about 300 pitches during a baseball clinic he attended on Wednesday and said, "Getting my thoughts across to the next generation [of players] is more important than my shoulder."

UPDATE 11/25 @ 12:55am - When reporters approached Kudo for comment on Thursday, he replied, "I'm flattered and grateful, but I cannot comment because I have not received any official offers."

The Kimiyasu Kudo becoming Yokohama's next manager story is gaining traction.  Sanspo reported earlier this morning that DeNA was originally interested in hiring 39-year-old Tsuyoshi Shinjo, but talks fell through because they could not agree on the number of years.  That may have been when Kudo suddenly became the next best option.  And according to the Sanspo report, Kudo may also be willing to retire if he gets on offer from the Bay Stars.

Nikkan Sports offers a similar opinion and adds that a retirement announcement could come some time this month after Kudo was quoted as saying, "The doctors told me my shoulder was inflamed.  I have been told that it will take some time to heal. ... If I decide to go to the US [for tryouts], I need to begin throwing in February, otherwise I will just be a pest.  I have to calculate backwards from that and decide what I am going to do next year.  I would like to decide before the end of the month."

Nikkan Sports reported on Tuesday morning that 48-year-old Kimiyasu Kudo could be a candidate for the Yokohama Bay Stars' managerial job.  They list his relative youth, positive personality, and his knowledge of training practices as qualities DeNA may be looking for in their next manager.

When asked what he thought, Kudo said, "I am not able to do anything, but I am flattered. ... They have been in last place for a number of years and I would like to see Yokohama get stronger."

The only problem with Kudo as a candidate is that Kudo still hasn't given up on his career as a pitcher.  But under the right conditions, he might be willing to retire.  Plus, it seems he may have a shoulder issue.

Said Kudo, "I can't throw right now because my shoulder hurts.  I think I can still pitch as long as it gets better."

Kimiyasu Kudo spoke of how he plans on heading to the US sometime in November for tryouts so that he can find a team to play for next year.  He also said that he was working on building his body up so that he can start throwing again in September.

Kudo was a guest coach / speaker at Baseball Park in Sendai today (part of the All-Star game festivities).