The Yankees made their first major move of the offseason Tuesday evening according to a tweet from ESPN’s Buster Olney. The Yankees and Hiroki Kuroda have reportedly agreed to a one-year $15-million deal that will keep Kuroda in pinstripes in 2013.
In 33 starts with the Yankees last year, Kuroda went 16-11 with a 3.32 ERA. He allowed 205 hits and struck out 167 and walked 51 in 219.2 innings. Those are fine numbers overall, but Kuroda had some wacky splits.
In 19 home starts, Kuroda was 11-6 with a 2.72 ERA. In eight day game starts, Kuroda was 5-2 with a 1.99 ERA. He was consistent on either side of the all-star break.
Hiroki Kuroda pitching for the LA Dodgers. Image from Wikipedia Commons.
Kuroda did have an edge in throwing 30 of his starts to Russell Martin, whom he had played with before in Los Angeles. With Martin a free agent, Kuroda might have to get acclimated with a new catcher in 2013.
The Yankees’ rotation, at this point, looks something like this.
1) CC Sabathia
2) Hiroki Kuroda
3) Phil Hughes
4) Ivan Nova
5) Mystery starter – Andy Pettitte, David Phelps, another minor leaguer, player to be acquired in a trade, free agent
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What do you think of the Yankees’ rotation for 2013? Do they need to make another move? If you were general manager, which player would be your top target? Let me know on Twitter: @THR_Montgomery.
