HEADING HOME
Reports: Vet Kuroda returning to play in Japan
The Yankees appear to have lost another starting pitcher.
According to Japanese reports, and confirmed by CBSSports.com, Hiroki Kuroda is heading back to Japan to pitch next season.
Several sources within the Yankees organization said Friday they had not been made aware of Kuroda’s decision to sign a oneyear contract with Hiroshima Toyo Carp.
Kuroda had signed oneyear deals with the Yankees each of the past three offseasons and made $16 million in 2014, when he still was the team’s most consistent starting pitcher.
The Yankees knew Kuroda was considering a return home.
His departure would leave a significant — though not unexpected — hole in the Yankees’ rotation. Nevertheless, the Yankees continue to insist they are not in the market for a highpriced free agent such as Max Scherzer or James Shields.
Though Kuroda will turn 40 in February, the righthander delivered another solid season in 2014 while their other starters struggled with injuries and poor performance.
Heading into 2015, the Yankees are looking at a rotation that figures to include Masahiro Tanaka, who is dealing with a partial elbow ligament tear and CC Sabathia, diagnosed with a degenerative knee condition. They also will have the inconsistent and injuryprone Michael Pineda, as well as Ivan Nova, who is coming off Tommy John surgery.
Righthander Nathan Eovaldi, recently acquired from the Marlins, is also unproven and Chris Capuano, coming back on a oneyear deal, is hardly a sure thing.
Kuroda was steady throughout his three seasons in The Bronx, going 3633 with a 3.44 ERA after spending four years with the Dodgers.
General manager Brian Cashman said he touched base with Kuroda’s agent during the winter meetings earlier this month, but no one in the organization was confident he would stay with the Yankees.