Yanks nearing a deal to re-signing Hiroki Kuroda

Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com reports that the Yankees are nearing a deal to re-sign pitcher Hiroki Kuroda to what would most likely be a one-year, $16 million deal. Heyman says that nothing is complete, but should be soon.

Kuroda declined the Yankees' one-year, $14.1 million qualifying offer in November, insuring that the Yankees would receive a draft pick if he decided to come back, but signed somewhere else. Kuroda currently does have a one-year offer on the table from the Yankees that is believed to be in the $15-$16 million range.

He was the Yankees' best pitcher for most of the 2013 season until he began to break down from fatigue in mid-August. The Bombers have been hoping to add at least two starting pitchers this winter, with Kuroda and Masahiro Tanaka being the top targets. Although Tanaka's posting is starting to be questioned after MLB and NPB agreed to a new posting system that would only bring in $20 million for Tanaka's current Japanese team. That might not be enough money to let him go.

Kuroda will join CC Sabathia and Ivan Nova as the only sure things in the rotation next season. The Yanks still need to add one more pitcher, and they're planning on having David Phelps, Adam Warren, Vidal Nuno and Michael Pineda compete for the fifth spot.

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