Hiroki Kuroda left Wednesday's start in the second inning after a line drive hit his pitching hand. Kuroda tried to barehand a liner up the middle, but, predictably, the ball just grazed off his pitching hand. He stayed in the game initially but eventually left after walking and then hitting a batter. It was a cold night at Yankee Stadium, and Kuroda understandably was probably struggling for a feel of his pitches. He'll probably be OK, but the Yankees should update his status soon. Kuroda was charged with two runs on four hits and a walk over 1 1/3 innings.

Hiroki Kuroda allowed just one hit over six scoreless innings versus the Pirates on Thursday. Kuroda struck out five and walked none. One of the Grapefruit League's strongest pitchers this spring, he'll head into the regular season with a 1.53 ERA and a 15/2 K/BB ratio in 17 2/3 innings. That doesn't even count his strong showing in an exhibition against the Dominican Republic's lineup of All-Stars three weeks back.

Hiroki Kuroda fanned six in four scoreless innings Monday in the Yankees' 4-0 shutout of the Cardinals. Kuroda has been really sharp his last two times out, first in quieting the Dominican Republic's lineup of All-Stars and today in shutting down the Cardinals' 'B' team. It's a good thing for the other semifinalists that he won't be pitching for Japan next week.

Hiroki Kuroda quieted the Dominican Republic's bats for three innings Wednesday, striking out four. Kuroda was shaky against the Phillies his first time out, but he seemed to be in regular-season form today. Apart from the three scoreless innings against Kuroda, the Dominican Republic has scored 23 runs in 15 innings the last two days.

Yankees re-signed RHP Hiroki Kuroda to a one-year, $15 million contract. He'll have a chance to earn a little less than $1 million in performance-based incentives. Kuroda will turn 38 in February, but he could have netted a two-year deal from someone if he wanted. Instead, he'll stay where he's comfortable before possibly returning to Japan after the season.

Buster Olney of ESPN.com reports that the Yankees have re-signed Hiroki Kuroda to a one-year contract. Financial terms of the deal aren't available at this time, but it will obviously be for a bit more than the $13.3 million Kuroda declined when the Yanks made him a qualifying offer. Kuroda could have gotten a multi-year deal from another team, but he preferred to sign for just one year so that he could possibly return to Japan after next season.

According to ESPN's Jayson Stark, the Yankees are "very confident" they'll be able to re-sign Hiroki Kuroda. Stark says the Angels and Dodgers -- the other major contenders for Kuroda's services -- have already shifted their focus elsewhere. The 37-year-old righty rejected a one-year, $13.3 million qualifying offer from the Yankees earlier this month and is likely to wind up signing for closer to $16 million. Look for a deal to be finalized soon.

FOX Sports' Ken Rosenthal reports that the consensus among league executives is that Hiroki Kuroda will remain with the Yankees next season or return to Japan. The Dodgers, Red Sox, and Angels are among the teams interested in Kuroda, but the expectation is that he'll re-sign with the Yankees. Returning to Japan is also a consideration. Kuroda, who turns 38 in February, was the Yankees' most consistent starter in 2012, and would provide stability to their rotation if brought back. He rejected a $13.3 million qualifying offer earlier this offseason.

Fox Sports' Ken Rosenthal reports that the consensus among league executives is that Hiroki Kuroda will either stay with the Yankees next season or return to Japan. The Dodgers, Red Sox, and Angels are among the teams interested in Kuroda, but the expectation is that he'll re-sign with the Yankees. Returning to Japan is also a legitimate consideration for Kuroda, who turns 38 in February. He rejected a $13.3 million qualifying offer earlier this offseason.

Joel Sherman of the New York Post reports that the Yankees are only willing to offer Hiroki Kuroda a one-year contract. It's a little surprising but something that might not be a deal-breaker in Kuroda's case given that he wants to return to Japan while he's still able to pitch at a high level. The Dodgers and Angels, Sherman says, "probably would be willing to offer at least a two-year pact." Sherman adds that the Yanks likely would be willing to pay Kuroda $15-16 million on a one-year deal.