Kuzul

Hiroki Kuroda has reportedly agreed to a deal with the Hiroshima Toyo Carp of the Nippon Professional Baseball League.

Sports Illustrated translated Daisuke Sugiura of Yahoo Japan’s original report:

According to Japanese reports shared by Sugiura, Kuroda will return to the Hiroshima Toyo Carp of the Nippon Professional Baseball League. He spent 10 seasons from 1997-2007 with the Carp before jumping to the majors and signing with the Dodgers.

Kuroda has been a stable presence in the New York Yankees’ starting rotation for the last three years after emerging as a 200-inning pitcher in his final two seasons with Los Angeles. He’s made at least 31 starts and thrown at least 196.1 innings every year since 2010. 

Coming off a strong 2014 campaign with the Yankees—in which he posted a 3.71 ERA, a 1.14 WHIP and 146 strikeouts in 199 innings—Kuroda told Erik Boland of Newsday in late September that he was keeping all of his options for next year open.     

“Right now, I’m relieved that I don’t have to think about the next outing,” Kuroda said. “To think about next year is something I cannot do right now.”

At the end of 2014, Kuroda told Bryan Hoch of MLB.com through an interpreter that he spoke with Andy Pettitte about his future and holding up over a long season at the age of 40.

“Before the game yesterday, we talked about Andy’s last outing last year in Houston,” he said. “One thing I can say is, the fact that I was able to stay in the rotation the full year without getting injured, that’s one thing I can say that fulfilled me.”

Despite a pedestrian 11-9 win-loss record last year, Kuroda was often a hard-luck loser in those games. Per Katie Sharp of ESPN, the right-hander couldn’t buy a win in games when he pitched at least seven innings and allowed three or fewer runs:

Kuroda hasn’t gotten the credit he deserves throughout his career. He’s never had gaudy strikeout numbers or led the league in ERA, yet the stats at the end of every season have always been strong.

Going back to where it all started is something that often appeals to veteran athletes, and Kuroda decided that rejoining the Carp was the best choice at this point in his career. With that decision, major league teams lost out on a potentially valuable back-of-the-rotation pitcher.

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Undervalued assets, in dollars or production, are the key to fielding a successful team.

Thus far, the offseason has been highlighted by contracts in excess of $150 million to Jacoby Ellsbury and $240 million to Robinson Cano, but it’s the smaller, less talked about moves that could pay major dividends in 2014. 

With revenue rising around the sport, free-agent players are receiving eye-opening offers and signing them without hesitation. Due to the cost of those free agents, general managers are holding onto their prospects, hoping for cheap labor to impact the club within a few seasons.

As the sport takes center stage in Disney World, we await the next major signing or trade, but often, it’s the smaller pacts or less publicized trades that go without the coverage they deserve.

Here are the six biggest steals of the offseason thus far. From one-year contracts to trades, the six players changing addresses all can provide more value than their most recent transaction suggests.

*All statistics courtesy of Baseball-Reference, unless otherwise noted.

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Expect the New York Yankees to be at the epicenter of everything free agency this offseason.

Not only are they the franchise with the most money to spend. They also have extremely large holes to fill.

The Yankees will be a possible landing spot for what seems like just about every top free agent available on the market.

Plucking the right guys in free agency from other teams will be crucial to the success of the Yankees’ turnaround.

Just as important as signing the right free agents from other teams is making the right decisions on which of their own free agents to re-sign.

The Yankees have a slew of free agents and money coming off the books. Some will go, some will stay.

We know Mariano Rivera and Andy Pettitte are gone because they both are retiring.

The rest of the list is up for grabs, with the very good possibility that none of the following 10 names return to the roster next season.

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FINAL

New York Yankees 1 – 2 New York Mets

WP: Scott Rice (3-3, 3.38 ERA)

LP: Mariano Rivera (0-1, 1.86 ERA)

Top 6th: Lyle Overbay RBI single

Bottom 9th: David Wright RBI single, Lucas Duda RBI walkoff single

Matt Harvey: 8 IP, 6 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 10 K

Hiroki Kuroda: 7 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 7 K

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So much for California teams having the edge.

After weeks of wondering where Hiroki Kuroda would end up, he chose to come back to the Bronx for one more season, as he signed a one-year deal worth $15 million, according to Buster Olney of ESPN.

Sources: The Yankees have agreed to terms on a one-year contract with Hiroki Kuroda.

— Buster Olney (@Buster_ESPN) November 20, 2012

The 37-year-old Japanese starter was 16-11 with a 3.32 ERA last season and got a raise from the $10 million he made in 2012.

Kuroda had interest from the Los Angeles Dodgers, Los Angeles Angels, Boston Red Sox, plus his former team in Japan, and for a while, it seemed like the two California teams were in the lead to land him for 2013.

But in the end, he chose to stay in New York and compete for another chance to make it back to the postseason and win a championship.

So now with Kuroda locked up for 2013, what does that do for the Yankees winter plans for free agency?

Let’s take a look.

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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.

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Any signs of panic in Yankees Universe concerning the outlook for the 2013 season can be eased for the time being.

According to ESPN’s Buster Olney, the New York Yankees have signed Japanese right-hander Hiroki Kuroda to a one-year, $15 million contract. The contract includes incentives for just under $1 million

Kuroda was a success in his first year in the American League, going 16-11 with a 3.32 ERA and a 126 ERA+. The 37-year-old set an MLB career-high in innings and starts and also pitched well in the postseason for the Yankees, even without any run support. 

Words can’t describe how huge this move is. Kuroda was the guy who pitched the Yankees through a rough summer filled with injuries to guys like Mark Teixeira, Alex Rodriguez and fellow starters CC Sabathia and Andy Pettitte. 

Around the time the injuries to Sabathia and Pettitte came (late June), Kuroda was sitting at just 6-7 with a 3.57 ERA, much like his days with the Dodgers. After that, from June 25, he went 10-4 with a 3.15 ERA. From July 18 to the end of August, he went 4-3, but with a 1.99 ERA in nine starts without CC and Andy. 

When September came around, the fatigue in setting a new career-high in innings seemed to kick in, as he went 4-1 but with a 4.71 ERA in 36.1 IP. In the playoffs, however, he reverted to the July-August Kuroda, allowing just five runs in 16 innings. He could have easily won both starts, but the Yankees offense failed to support him, much like every game in the postseason. 

The Yankees needed to bring this guy back badly. Without him, the Yankees rotation for this upcoming season was looking like this:

LHP CC Sabathia

RHP Phil Hughes

RHP Ivan Nova

RHP David Phelps

RHP Adam Warren

With Sabathia possibly a future liability concerning his health, combined with the inconsistencies of Nova and Hughes as well as the inexperience of Phelps and Warren, the Bombers needed Kuroda‘s veteran presence back in the rotation.

He once again becomes a reliable No. 2 man behind Sabathia, who has shown he can pitch in Yankee Stadium despite being a right-hander and having previously spent four years on Chavez Ravine. 

With this move, it likely re-opens the possibility of the return of both Mariano Rivera and Andy Pettitte, who will also be crucial to the fate of the Yankees in 2013.

Pettitte is once again trying to decide between retirement and baseball. As always, if it is baseball, it is the Yankees. He will likely agree to a contract that is favorable to the Yankees’ future payroll plan.

Mariano, on the other hand, is a bit of a different story. He has already told GM Brian Cashman that he wishes to return, especially after having his season end to a knee injury during ball shagging in Kansas City back in May.

The Yankees will want to bring him back, but on terms favorable to them. Hopefully for them, Rivera will be agreeable and be willing to take a pay cut after making $15 million for the past five seasons.

The Yankees will need him because it looks as if they will not be bringing back Rafael Soriano, who did a fantastic and invaluable job as his replacement this year.

If both are to return to New York in 2013, the rotation and bullpen will likely look like this, baring any big moves:

Rotation

LHP CC Sabathia

RHP Hiroki Kuroda

LHP Andy Pettitte

RHP Phil Hughes

RHP Ivan Nova

Bullpen

Closer: Mariano Rivera

Setup: David Robertson

LOOGY: Boone Logan

LOOGY: Clay Rapada

RHP: Joba Chamberlain

RHP: Cody Eppley

RHP: David Phelps

RHP: David Aardsma 

Like this past year, still a very solid pitching staff that will rank among the best in the American League, especially if guys like Mo and Aardsma are healthy and Hughes and Nova improve on 2012.

Keep in mind that if Hughes or Nova are to regress even further next year, fire-baller Michael Pineda should be ready by June to take their place in the rotation

Also, considering the Yankees’ future plans considering their payroll, it’s cheaper than it could be. 

Kuroda’s re-signing not only means the possible return of Pettitte and Rivera; it means the Yankees’ chances of a World Series run is more possible than it was yesterday.

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ESPN’s Buster Olney tweeted this evening that the New York Yankees have agreed to a one-year contract with free-agent pitcher Hiroki Kuroda. Olney went on to tweet that the deal was for $15 million, with possible incentives totaling less than $1 million. His signing takes one of the better available arms off the market and solidifies the Yankees’ 2013 starting rotation.

CBSSports.com’s Jon Heyman had reported that after initial reports that Kuroda was interested in pitching in Los Angeles, he had finally whittled his choices down to the Yankees or returning to Japan to finish his career. Undoubtedly, Kuroda’s successful 2012 season with the Yankees, where he went 16-11 with a 3.32 ERA, played into his decision.

Although the Yankees have a number of aging players on their roster, and Kuroda is about to turn 38, his one-year contract is a safe bet for the Yankees. The right-hander has never had an ERA over 3.76 in his MLB career and flourished pitching in New York, which is something not all pitchers can claim.

Yankee Stadium is known as a hitter’s park, but Kuroda apparently never got that memo. He was 11-6 with a 2.72 ERA last season, which was significantly better than the 4.23 ERA he posted on the road.

The Yankees announced last month that their ace, C.C. Sabathia, underwent arthroscopic surgery to clean out his pitching elbow. Although the Chicago Tribune expects he will be ready for the start of the 2013 season, there is never any way to tell how a pitcher will respond from such a procedure. Having Kuroda back in the rotation is valuable insurance.

Even with the Yankees’ intent on being more fiscally responsible in 2013, bringing back Kuroda on a one-year deal was a no-brainer. The Yankees can now move forward to see in what other ways they can shore up their team, secure in the knowledge that their pitching staff has one less question mark.

Statistics via BaseballReference

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The New York Yankees have reportedly signed right-hander Hiroki Kuroda to a one-year extension, according to Buster Olney of ESPN.

Olney tweeted on Tuesday:

Sources: The Yankees have agreed to terms on a one-year contract with Hiroki Kuroda.

— Buster Olney (@Buster_ESPN) November 20, 2012

Olney later tweeted the details of the contract:

The agreement with the Yankees and Kuroda is for $15 million, with some incentives that are worth less than $1 million.

— Buster Olney (@Buster_ESPN) November 20, 2012

While this may be a bit pricey for a starter in his late 30s, this isn’t a bad move for the Yankees, considering that the 37-year-old led the team’s regular starters in starts (33), innings (219.2), ERA (3.32) and quality starts (20) last season. He also had just 51 walks while notching 167 strikeouts.

Beyond that, Kuroda pitched well in the postseason, allowing a combined five runs in two starts (16 innings) against the Baltimore Orioles and Detroit Tigers.

This is nothing new for the Osaka native, of course. He’s had a history of success ever since joining the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2008. He’s never had an ERA over 3.76 in his major-league career and posted an ERA of 3.07 with the Dodgers in 2011.

The Yankees registered a starters’ ERA of 4.05 last season, which was good for sixth in the American League, although young starters Phil Hughes and Ivan Nova, as well as Freddy Garcia (17 starts), struggled. Kuroda and CC Sabathia were huge for New York.

The Yankees are hoping Kuroda can duplicate his success in 2013 after a season that saw the club get swept by the Tigers in the ALCS despite posting the AL’s best regular-season record (95-67).

The offense is going to have to show up in the playoffs, though.

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One of Brian Cashman’s top priorities this winter is bringing back Hiroki Kuroda for 2013.

However, according to Mark Saxon of ESPN Los Angeles, Kuroda could be heading back to California next season.

Saxon reported that Kuroda has told friends his preference is to pitch near California because that’s where his two daughters are attending elementary school.

And if that’s the case, that means the Los Angeles Dodgers and Angels would be the two front-runners for Kuroda’s services.

Kuroda was a member of the Dodgers for four seasons, but they decided not to bring him back for 2012, which could end up giving the Dodgers the potential edge in landing him.

The 37-year-old Japanese starter went 16-11 with a 3.32 in 33 starts for the Bombers last season and was arguably the Yankees most consistent and best pitcher during the year.

His great season in pinstripes is the reason why the Dodgers, Angels, Boston Red Sox, Yankees and Japan are all interested in Kuroda’s services.

The Yankees did offer Kuroda a one-year, $13.3 million qualifying offer, but Kuroda rejected it because he knew he could probably get more money on a one-year deal.

Losing Kuroda to free agency would be a major blow to a Yankee rotation that is in limbo for next year.

Andy Pettitte is still deciding on his 2013 future and Michael Pineda is still recovering from an injury and likely won’t be ready for next year.

Plus, Ivan Nova had a terrible second half to 2012 in which he was bounced from the rotation. Phil Hughes only has one year left on his deal, which leaves CC Sabathia as the only guarantee of the staff.

But if in fact Kuroda bolts from the Bronx, it makes things that much more complicated for Cashman and the Yankees regarding their plans for next year.

Stay tuned, Yankees Universe.

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