Jeff Sanders of the San Diego Union-Tribune reports that before starter Hiroki Kuroda decided to return to Japan, the Padres made a serious push to sign the right-hander. A source for Sanders suggested that a report of a one-year deal worth $18 million was “a little high”, but it nevertheless showed the Padres’ commitment towards competing in the 2015 season.
Kuroda, 39, finished his final season in the major leagues with a 3.71 ERA and a 146/35 K/BB ratio in 199 innings for the Yankees. In seven seasons in the bigs (four with the Dodgers, three with the Yankees), Kuroda never finished with an ERA higher than 3.76. The veteran will play what is likely his last professional season with the Hiroshima Toyo Carp in Japan’s Central League.
