Report: Kuroda to pitch in Japan in 2015

Dec 27, 2014 - 2:31 AM (SportsNetwork.com) - Free agent pitcher Hiroki Kuroda will return to his native Japan and play for the Hiroshima Toyo Carp for the 2015 season, according to a report by Yahoo! Japan.

Kuroda, who spent the last three seasons with the New York Yankees, previously pitched for the Toyo Carp from 1997-2007 before embarking on a seven-year tenure in the majors that began with the Los Angeles Dodgers.

The 39-year-old won the Nippon Professional Baseball ERA title in 2006 and received a Best Nine Award, recognizing the NPB's best player at his position, the previous year.

Kuroda compiled a 79-79 record and a 3.45 ERA over seven seasons with the Dodgers and Yankees, winning a career-best 16 games in his first year with New York in 2012. He started at least 31 games six times during his time in North America.

The veteran right-hander went 11-9 with a 3.71 ERA in 32 starts with the Yankees last season.

The Yankees had already prepared for Kuroda's possible departure or retirement during this offseason, filling rotation spots by re-signing Chris Capuano and acquiring Nathan Eovaldi in a recent trade with Miami.