New York Yankees sign Hiroki Kuroda to one year deal to avoid luxury tax - MLB News
Trying to avoid baseball’s luxury tax by 2013, the New York Yankees are not worried about spending big as long as it is on a one year deal. On Tuesday, the Yankees took a major step towards improving their starting rotation as they signed the Japanese starter
Hiroki Kuroda to a one year $15 million deal.
Kuroda displayed some top quality throwing skills as he went 16-11 with an incredible 1.17 WHIP. Striking-out 167 batters, he showed the baseball world the stuff he is capable of. The Yankees are also awaiting decision from veteran left hander Andy Pettitte,
who said he is likely to make the decision by Thanksgiving Day.
"It something that I think fits how we've operated here in the last number of years, to do short-term circumstances on high-end players," Yankees’ general manager Brian Cashman said.
"Hiroki Kuroda chose us on a lesser deal last year and I suspect he's done the same again this year," Cashman said. "By coming here, I suspect that he left money on the table. I suspect it was a very aggressive market on him, and I think it is a reflection
of he really enjoyed playing here for this city, for this team, for this organization and with these teammates to come back under the circumstances."
The 37-year-old Kuroda is expected to fill the Number two spot on Yankees’ pitching rotation. It will be interesting if the 37-year-old, who was Yankees’ most consistent pitcher in 2012, can continue the good work in 2013 to help his side win the American
League Championship Series.
The Yankees will pay the luxury taxes for the tenth straight season in 2013 and it is understandable why the offered a one year contract to Kuroda. General Manager Brian Cashman is looking to get under 20-14’s threshold of $189 million, which would enable
the club to maximise their profits considerably.
Kuroda lost six of his first nine starts in 2012 but he raised his game play considerably with each passing game. The starter ended the season with a decent 3.32 ERA that was the second best among Yankees’ starting pitchers behind Pettitte.
Tags: