Of all the starting pitchers out there on the market, Los Angeles Dodgers righty Hiroki Kuroda might be the best, and is definitely the most underrated. It isn't surprising, then, that Kuroda has generated a lot of interest from contending teams. The only problem? Kuroda's contract includes a full no-trade clause, and Kuroda may not want to leave.
MLB Trade Rumors: Hiroki Kuroda May Be Open To Deal
But it’s also been suggested that he’s open to the idea. From Andrew Marchand:
There is a common perception that Kuroda only wants to remain in Los Angeles, but the official [source] said that is a “myth” and Kuroda will consider his options, if dealt.
And from Danny Knobler:
But the Dodgers continue to explore possible trades, and according to sources they believe that Kuroda could be persuaded to go to a contending team for the final two months of the season.
In truth, there isn’t a lot here. All these blockquotes really say is that Kuroda won’t shoot down any trade before a trade is agreed to. Look at the wording. “Will consider his options.” “Could be persuaded.” The message is simply that Hiroki Kuroda is not guaranteed to invoke his no-trade clause.
But that's still just enough of an opening to keep teams calling. A number of teams have shown varying degrees of interest in Kuroda, including the Yankees, Red Sox, Tigers, Rangers, Indians and Brewers. Even if Kuroda is unlikely to accept a trade, that doesn't mean he's dead set against one, and he's good enough to be worth the effort. The righty has a career 111 ERA+ that would look good in any rotation, and while he's 36 years old, he's under contract for only two more months.
That last part is also key for Kuroda. The fact that he could re-sign with the Dodgers in a few short months presumably makes him more amenable to the idea of playing elsewhere down the stretch.
Stay tuned. Expect the Kuroda rumors to keep on flying.
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