Red Sox rumors: Sox looking at Hiroki Kuroda

Jon Paul Morosi is reporting that the Boston Red Sox are showing interest in free agent pitcher Hiroki Kuroda. According to Jon Heyman, Kuroda is also drawing interest from Japan. Kuroda pitched for the Yankees in 2012, compiling a 16-11 record with a 3.32 ERA. He threw 219⅔ innings for New York last season after spending the first four seasons of his major league career in Los Angeles with the Dodgers.

The Yankees extended a qualifying offer of one year at $13.3 million to Kuroda, and the pitcher reportedly enjoyed his time in New York. He has to make a decision on that offer by Friday, and if he declines, the Yankees will be entitled to draft pick compensation should he remain in Major League Baseball. The Red Sox would not lose a first round pick to sign Kuroda, as the top ten picks in the June draft are protected. The Yankees would not receive a draft pick if he returns to Japan.

Kuroda has been a target of the Red Sox before, and Boston was one of the teams that he agreed to waive his no-trade clause for at the trading deadline in 2011. The Dodgers and Red Sox were not able to agree a deal for the pitcher at that time.