Former Yankee Update: Hiroki Kuroda

Hiroki Kuroda re-signed with the Hiroshima Carp for ~$4.9 million, which makes him the highest-paid player in Japan. https://t.co/NVl8OtBCii

— Dylan Hernandez (@dylanohernandez) December 18, 2015

The New York Yankees have enjoyed some of the best starting pitchers in the history of the game over the franchise's storied history. The team has seen the first ever perfect game being thrown in the postseason with Don Larsen, great pitching performances from Andy Pettitte and Roger Clemens, Cuban-defected stars come over and make an impact like Orlando Hernandez and they may have had the best pitcher to ever come over from Japan wear the pinstripes during his career. That man is Hiroki Kuroda and he just made the next decision in his playing career.

Hiroki Kuroda, a Yankee as recently as 2014, decided to head back to the place where his career started. Japan. Last season Kuroda signed a deal with the Hiroshima Carp to presumably finish his career in the Nippon Professional Baseball League. It was thought to be a one-and-done for Kuroda but the crafty right-hander has at least one more season in him apparently.

Kuroda signed another one-year deal with the Carp worth $4.9 million making him the highest paid player in Japanese League history. Kuroda posted impressive numbers in 2015 with the Carp putting up an 11-8 record with a 2.55 ERA. Kuroda struck out 106 batters in 169.2 innings pitched which was good for 1.102 WHIP in 26 starts.