Yankees retain Hiroki Kuroda for one year, $15 million

Despite an ugly conclusion to their 2012 season, the New York Yankees were nonetheless a solid, 95-win team with a sound foundation of starting pitching.

It would only figure, then, that the Yankees would move quickly to maintain that foundation.

The process began Tuesday when the club agreed to terms with right-hander Hiroki Kuroda on a one-year, $15 million contract.

Kuroda made $11 million while winning 16 games in 2012, and his signing does not preclude the club from reaching managing general partner Hal Steinbrenner’s stated goal of getting the payroll below $189 million in 2014 and avoid Major League Baseball’s luxury tax.

“It is a relief,” general manager Brian Cashman said Tuesday night on a conference call, “to have Hiroki back. I suspect he left money on the table (coming back).”

Kuroda isn’t the only Yankee likely to be re-upped. Andy Pettitte, 40, pitched well for the club in a partial season while earning $2.15 million. Like Kuroda, Pettitte figures to get a significant raise over his 2012 salary.

via Yankees retain Hiroki Kuroda for one year, $15 million.