The New York Yankees continue to work through their pitching rotation options as a number of players sit on the free agent market to be signed. The team had denied interest in making any more big moves at that position, but another player exit could force them to change their minds. With Ivan Nova still recovering from Tommy John surgery, Hiroki Kuroda's exit to Japan could force a signing.
ESPNNewYork.com is reporting that Kuroda is planning on leaving the New York Yankees in favor of returning to Japan to pitch for the Hiroshima Toyo Carp. Kuroda pitched for the team from 1997 to 2007 before signing with the Los Angeles Dodgers and then moving to the Yankees after four years. However, the soon-to-be 40-year-old has opted to leave New York, take a pay cut and return to his first team.
Kuroda has been one of the most consistent starters for the Yankees. He went 11-9 with a 3.71 ERA last season while being one of the more durable pitchers in the rotation. According to statistics, he worked 199 innings in 2014 after exceeding 200 in his first two seasons with the Yankees. His exit was expected, but certainly leaves a hole in the Yankees rotation.
The Yankees have now lost two productive starters in the offseason as Brandon McCarthy signed with the Dodgers. Right now, New York is confident in the players on the roster. Masahiro Tanaka, CC Sabathia, Michael Pineda, Nathan Eovaldi and Chris Capuano will round out the rotation to start next season while Nova works his way back from injury. Will this be enough to get the Yankees back into championship contention?
General manager Brian Cashman has remained adamant that the Yankees will not hand out any over-priced contracts this season. That keeps them out of the running for Max Scherzer even though he would be a solid ace to acquire. Agent Scott Boras did his best to sell the Yankees on acquiring the former Detroit Tigers pitcher, but so far no one is biting on the contract demands. That could lead the Yankees to make trades instead for players like Cole Hamels or Jordan Zimmermann this offseason.
