YANKEES 101

On Thursday the New York Yankees made it official announcing the signing of RHP Hiroki Kuroda to a one-year $10 million deal.

The 36 year old Kuroda had 32 starts for the Los Angeles Dodgers last year going, 13-16 . Kuroda is an innings eater and accurate thrower, who in 202 innings had 161 strikeouts and held hitters to a .194 average with runners in scoring position accounting for his 3.07 ERA. 

In a released statement Kuroda said, "I hope that I can make a difference in achieving the team's ultimate goal, which is to win the World Series."

In four Major League seasons with the Dodgers, Kuroda's 115 career starts shows a record of, 41-46 with a 3.45 ERA, 699 innings pitched, 523 strikeouts to only 163 walks.

Kuroda looks to slide possibly into the No. 3 hole in the rotation behind CC Sabathia and newly acquired Michael Pineda. Though it looks like a log jam for the starting rotation, seven pitchers for five slots, surely this will be figured out by the end of spring training. There has been much speculation in the media concerning trading a pitcher for a bat. You can never have enough pitching, so it's a safe bet that general manager Brian Cashman will hold off on any deal of that nature till he sees how this all plays out.

New York also signed lefty reliever Boone Logan to a one-year deal worth $1.87 million. This completes the signing of all arbitration eligible players.

Logan was asking originally for $2.1 million and the Yankees had offered $1.7 million, so they met half way which also included a possible bonus of $25,000 for at least appearing in 55 games. Logan is one of three lefties on the 40 man roster, which includes Pedro Feliciano, who had Tommy John surgery and may never pitch again, and Cesar Cabral who they acquired from the Kansas City Royals.

The signing of these two pitchers probably concludes anymore deals before spring training. The Bombers could use one more bat and another bench piece, but they may have a youngster or two in spring training who may rise up and fill those positions. Cashman said at Jorge Posada's press conference that he has not reached out to any agents regarding the DH position and that agents have contacted him regarding their clients. This dispelled rumors that were circulating about Cashman reaching out to the likes of Johnny Damon and Hideki Matsui among others to fill that slot.

There is no urgency on Cashman's part to fill that position, since it will be used during the season for "half days off" for Alex Rodriguez, Derek Jeter and Mark Teixeira.

Also…

• Be sure to "like" Yankees 101 on Facebook and follow Yankees 101 on Twitter for all your Bombers breaking news and insight!  

Related Videos

Related posts

• New York Yankees Agree to One Year Deal with Hiroki Kuroda
• New York Yankees Will not Offer Contract to Hiroki Kuroda
• Hiroki Kuroda Drawing Interest from New York Yankees, Boston Red Sox
• Contrary to Initial Reports, New York Yankees Have Yet to Make Offer to Hiroki Kuroda
• Brett Gardner Strikes Deal with New York Yankees to Avoid Arbitration