FA Starting Pitchers Suited for the M’s

Sep 24, 2013; Bronx, NY, USA; New York Yankees starting pitcher Hiroki Kuroda (18) walks around the mound in the sixth inning before being relieved in the sixth inning of MLB game against the Tampa Bay Rays at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Noah K. Murray-USA TODAY Sports

If this ageless wonder doesn’t retire, I would LOVE to see Hiroki Kuroda in a Mariners uniform. In his 6 year MLB career he has never posted an ERA above 3.76, and this season spent a sizable amount of the year as the ERA leader in the AL.

Three reasons I like Kuroda:

1) He is proven.

2) He is Japanese, and the Mariners fan base would eat up having both Hisashi Iwakuma and Kuroda in the starting rotation. Not everyone has jumped on the Iwakuma bandwagon yet, but with these two lurking behind King Felix Hernandez in the rotation it would be hard to ignore their start power.

3) He is likely to only require a 1 year deal. This is important because the M’s have a lot of young talent in the wings. What they need for the next few seasons are stable, consistent pitchers who will eat up innings, win games, and give the young guys a chance to find their Sodo Mojo without an absurd amount of pressure.

I would be willing to pay as much as $17.5 million for Kuroda’s services in 2014… though I’m sure the Yankees will fight to keep him in pinstripes.