Dodgers 2014 Off-Season Free Agent Profile: Hiroki Kuroda

As the offseason continues, we take a look at free agents around the league that could be a fit with the Dodgers and discuss the possibility.

Today we take a look at a former Dodger that could be a possibility to return to Los Angeles:

Hiroki Kuroda

Kuroda is a 38-year-old right hander that spent the past two seasons with the New York Yankees. In his major league career, Kuroda has played five seasons and has a 68-70 record with a 3.40 ERA.

2013 Season

With the Yankees, Kuroda ended the season with a 11-13 record and a 3.31 ERA in 32 starts. In 201.1 innings, he allowed just 43 walks and struck out 150 batters. He went at least six innings in 24 of those starts and had an ERA of 2.33 as late as August.

Pros

Kuroda is not looking for a long-term deal and could provide a capable filler in the rotation for a season as Dodger prospect Zach Lee works his way up to the majors. The right-hander is still a very effective pitcher that will pitch deep into games and give the team a chance to win in his starts.

Before a tough ending to the season, Kuroda sat at 11-7 with a 2.33 ERA in the American League. The 38-year-old is familiar with the Dodgers and could provide a stable back end of a rotation led by Clayton Kershaw and Zack Greinke.

Kuroda is durable, proven by the fact that he has thrown at least 200 innings in the past three seasons and has made at least 30 starts in four of his five seasons. The Japanese starter attacks the strike zone and induces a large number of ground balls, which allows him to get deep into games. Also, bringing him back to Dodger Stadium for home games as opposed to the hitter-friendly Yankee Stadium should do wonders for Kuroda’s ERA.

Kuroda knows Los Angeles and could be enticed by their newfound success.

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