The New York Yankees have some stiff competition in their attempt to re-sign free agent starting pitcher Hiroki Kuroda. The Boston Red Sox and Los Angeles Dodgers are also interested, according to Jon Morosi.
Red Sox, Dodgers among teams interested in Hiroki Kuroda
Hiroki Kuroda is drawing interest from a number of teams looking for reliable starting pitching.
Alex Trautwig
Kuroda signed with the Yankees last offseason on a one-year deal for $10 million and pitched very well in 2012, posting a 16-11 record with a 3.32 ERA. The 38-year-old is likely looking for a raise, though not necessarily a long-term deal. The Yankees would very much like to have him back, as he served as a more than capable No. 2 starter behind CC Sabathia.
The Red Sox are looking to regroup after a disastrous 2012 that saw them lose 93 games. Jon Lester was their only starter to throw over 200 innings, but he did so with a 4.82 ERA.
Kuroda began his Major League career in Los Angeles, pitching for the Dodgers from 2008 to 2011. He had a 3.45 ERA in 114 starts with them before leaving for New York. The Dodgers just missed the playoffs in 2012 and are likely to spend more money this winter to avoid the same fate in 2013.
There is also the possibility that Kuroda could decide to return to his native Japan. He has expressed a desire to end his playing career there, and at 38, that could mean sooner rather than later.
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