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Hiroki Kuroda signs with Yankees; Dodgers focused on Zack Greinke, Anibal Sanchez

Kuroda will return to New York for a one-year contract, which means the Dodgers will not need to forfeit their first-round draft pick to sign a starting pitcher this offseason.

By Eric Stephen
Hiroki Kuroda won't be returning to Dodgers next season
Hiroki Kuroda won't be returning to Dodgers next season
Jeff Gross

We can cross one potential starting pitcher target off the Dodgers' wish list, as old friend Hiroki Kuroda has re-signed with the New York Yankees. Buster Olney of ESPN reported that the right-hander signed a one-year contract worth $15 million, plus under $1 million in incentives.

Kuroda, who will be 38 in February, was 16-11 with a 3.32 ERA last season in The Bronx, in a season-high 219⅔ innings. He turned down the Yankees' qualifying offer of one-year, $13.3 million on Nov. 12, and would have cost the Dodgers, or any other team than the Yankees a first round draft pick.

The two main pitchers on the Dodgers' radar — Zack Greinke and Anibal Sanchez, per Danny Knobler of CBS Sports — were both traded mid-season, so the Dodgers wouldn't have to forfeit their 19th overall pick in next year's draft if they decide to sign one of them.

The Dodgers play the Yankees four times next season: twice in New York on June 18-19, and two games at Dodger Stadium on July 30-31.

But Kuroda wasn't the only old friend in the news on Tuesday:

  • Cory Wade, who was claimed off waivers from the Yankees by the Blue Jays on Oct. 17, was designated for assignment by Toronto.
  • Trayvon Robinson, who was sent to the Seattle Mariners in a three-team trade involving the Boston Red Sox on July 31, 2010 that brought the Dodgers Tim Federowicz, among others, was traded on Tuesday by Seattle to the Baltimore Orioles for infielder Robert Andino. Both Robinson and Andino are out of options.
  • Ethan Martin, who was sent by the Dodgers along with Josh Lindblom and, eventually, Stefan Jarrin, to the Phillies for Shane Victorino, was added to the Phillies' 40-man roster on Tuesday, the deadline for major league teams to set rosters in preparation for next month's Rule 5 draft.
  • Jamie Hoffmann, who hit .257/.347/.407 with 11 home runs in 110 games in 2012 with Triple-A Norfolk in the Orioles' system, has signed a minor league deal with the New York Mets, per Adam Rubin of ESPN New York.
  • Perhaps the oldest friend of all, Larry King, was spotted with former Dodgers pitcher Chan Ho Park and Gangnam Style propagator Psy, per Deadspin.

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