MLB free agency: Red Sox interested in Hiroki Kuroda, according to reports

Free-agent pitcher Hiroki Kuroda is drawing interest from the Boston Red Sox, according to Jon Paul Morosi. Jon Heyman is also reporting that there is interest in the pitcher from Japan, where he spent the majority of his career. Kuroda signed with the Yankees last winter after spending his first four seasons in America pitching for the Los Angeles Dodgers.

The Yankees extended a qualifying offer to Kuroda of one year at $13.3 million, and he has to make a decision on the offer by Friday. Kuroda seems to like the idea of playing on a one-year deal, keeping his options open for the future. If Kuroda signs with another team in Major League Baseball, the Yankees would be entitled to a compensatory draft pick due to the qualifying offer they extended him. The Red Sox would not have to forfeit a first-round draft pick though, as the first ten picks in the June draft are protected.

Kuroda was 16-11 for the Yankees in 2012, throwing 219.2 innings with a 3.32 ERA. He earned $10 million on his one year deal, so the Yankees offer would be a sizable raise.