Kuroda Turns Down Qualifying Offer From The Yankees

Joining Robinson Cano and Curtis Granderson, Hiroki Kuroda rejected the one-year, $14.1 million qualifying offer from the Yankees. Kuroda is now a free-agent, and the question remains as to what he will do next in his career.

Many within the game have believed all along that Kuroda would reject the qualifying offer. The $14.1 million is $900,000 less than what he made in 2014, and after being the Yankees' best pitcher for most of the year, it was unlikely that he would be willing to take the pay cut.

It's possible that Kuroda could work out a new contract with the Yankees like he did last offseason when he was able to ink a one-year, $15 million deal with the Bombers for the 2013 season. If Kuroda decides that he doesn't want to pitch another season in the majors, he could go back to Japan to finish his career, or just retire from the game. At the moment, Yankees GM Brian Cashman doesn't know what Kuroda plans to do.

“I have no idea” Cashman said on Kuroda's plans to return. “My conversations with his agent, the only information I’ve gotten from that is he hasn’t made any decisions, what he wants to do as far as next year’s concerned.”

Obviously it would be a big help for the Yankees to know of Kuroda's plans. After Andy Pettitte retired this offseason, only CC Sabathia and Ivan Nova are penciled into the rotation for next season, and having Kuroda back would give the Yanks another much needed starter.

For the latest on Kuroda and the Yankees, follow @GavinEwbank2013 on Twitter.