CARLSBAD, Calif. -- The Red Sox have scouted Japanese left-hander Yusei Kikuchi and could be among the teams to pursue him this winter, according to president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski.

Dombrowski refused to comment on the extent of Boston's interest in the lefty, who is expected to be posted by the Seibu Lions at some point this winter. He did confirm that Boston has scouted Kikuchi.

"We've been doing that for years," Dombrowski said. "He's a guy who has been a quality pitcher there for a while, so we watch him on a regular basis. Yes, we have a pulse of him."

Kikuchi, 27, was 14-4 with a 3.24 ERA in 23 starts for Seibu last year. In total, he owns a career 2.81 ERA in eight seasons in Japan.

Kikuchi hired Scott Boras to represent him last week.