by Ken Rosenthal

The deal, the news of which was first reported by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, is expected to become official early next week after Kawakami passes a physical and a final contract issue is resolved, sources said.

Kawakami, 33, will join righties Javier Vazquez and Jair Jurrjens in a revamped Atlanta rotation that will be without John Smoltz for the first time since 1988. His signing could be a prelude to an even bigger addition — free-agent right-hander Derek Lowe.

The Braves also are "all over" Lowe, one source said, and Mets officials seemed pessimistic Friday about their chances of signing the veteran pitcher, to whom they have offered a three-year, $36 million contract.

Braves executives, however, are wary of being overconfident. Prior to signing Kawakami, they had struck out on three major offseason pursuits — a trade for Padres right-hander Jake Peavy and the signings of free-agent right-hander A.J. Burnett and shortstop Rafael Furcal.

The Braves are reluctant to offer Lowe a guaranteed fourth year, but one possibility for them is to make a three-year proposal in the range of $40 million to $42 million with a club or vesting option.