Starting pitcher Hiroki Kuroda re-signs with the New York Yankees.
Reported by ESPN’s Buster Olney, Kuroda’s one-year contract is worth $15 million and includes incentives worth less than $1 million. His first contract with the Yankees was for one-year and was worth $10 million.
Kuroda, 37, had his first season with the New York Yankees in 2012 and posted a 16-11 record with a 3.32 ERA. The Japanese right-hander pitched for the Los Angeles Dodgers for 4 seasons before joining the Yankees. As a member of the Dodgers, Kuroda had a 41-46 record with a 3.45 ERA.
There was doubts about Kuroda’s transition from the National League West to the American League East but his 33 starts in 2012 were fairly better than his career average with the Dodgers. In 2012, Kuroda pitched a career-high 219.2 innings and made the most starts for the American League East division champion New York Yankees.
His consistency earned him interest from numerous suitors like the Red Sox, Angels, and Dodgers. He also received interest from Japanese teams as he has expressed interest in returning to Japan to pitch back home. Kuroda will currently return to a pitching staff that includes CC Sabathia, Phil Hughes, Ivan Nova and possibly Andy Pettitte if he chooses to pitch again next season instead of retiring.
