The New York Yankees have agreed to terms with right-hander Hiroki Kuroda on a one-year deal, according to ESPN.com.
Sources reportedly told ESPN The Magazine’s Buster Olney the deal is worth $15 million plus incentives. The incentives are said to be worth less than $1 million.
The money makes sense; Kuroda had turned down the Yankees’ qualifying offer of $13.3 million on Nov. 9 and was said to be pondering a return to Japan.
Looking forward, the deal brings New York’s most consistent starter back for 2013. Kuroda was 16-11 with a 3.32 ERA and a 1.17 WHIP in a career-high 219.2 innings.
There is every reason to believe Kuroda will be just as good in 2013 as he was in his first season in pinstripes; five reasons to be exact.