Starting pitcher Hiroki Kuroda will stay with the New York Yankees for another year after the Japanese agreed to a $15 million deal.
The Yankees are also expecting Andy Pettitte to join them in 2013. The veteran pitcher has not decided whether he will play next year.
"It something that I think fits how we've operated here in the last number of years, to do short-term circumstances on high-end players," the Associated Press quoted Yankees general manager Brian Cashman as saying.
"Of course, obviously, there's an answer to that question but not one I'm prepared to answer," he added when asked about Pettitte's future.
Kuroda , 37, is one of the most consistent performers for the Yankees and the $15 million deal is a proof that his team needs his services.
"Hiroki Kuroda chose us on a lesser deal last year and I suspect he's done the same again this year," Cashman said. "By coming here, I suspect that he left money on the table.
"I suspect it was a very aggressive market on him, and I think it is a reflection of he really enjoyed playing here for this city, for this team, for this organization and with these teammates to come back under the circumstances he's coming back on."
Kuroda finished the season with a 3.32 ERA. Only Pettitte has a better record among New York starters with 2.87 ERA.
"I am very happy and excited to re-sign with the Yankees," Kuroda said. "I am very grateful for all of the interest and all of the offers that I received from the various teams that courted me.
"It was a tough decision for me to make, but at the end of the day, I wanted to try to win a championship with the teammates that I went to battle with last season."
Kuroda played for the Los Angeles Dodgers for four seasons, before coming back to the Yankees.
Kuroda was initially hired on a $10 million base salary, but he made $11 million while winning 16 games in 2012. He had refused a $13.3 million offer from the Yankees for the coming year, before agreeing on a $15 million contract with performance bonuses. The Yankees have been paying luxury tax on their huge payrolls and they will continue this tradition. They may pay even more in 2013.
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