2012 MLB Free Agents: Yankees Agree to Terms with Hiroki Kuroda

The New York Yankees made two significant upgrades to their starting rotation on Friday night. 

First, they acquired Michael Pineda from the Seattle Mariners in exchange for Jesus Montero. Essentially, they traded one of the best young hitters in the league for one of the best young pitchers in the league.

Shortly after that news broke, Jack Curry of the YES Network dropped this bombshell:

So in the span of roughly 30 minutes, the Yankees added two rock-solid arms to their rotation. Their quiet offseason got very loud very fast.

In Kuroda, the Yankees are getting a pitcher who compiled a 3.45 ERA in four seasons with the Los Angeles Dodgers, pitching at least 180 innings in three out of the four years. 

At the absolute very least, Kuroda is a pitcher the Yankees can count on the provide innings. That's why this signing should be considered a significant victory for the Yankees, as starters who can provide innings have been in short supply in The Bronx in recent seasons.

To be sure, there should be some concern about how Kuroda's stuff will translate over to the AL East. Compiling an ERA in the 3.00s is much easier to do in the NL West than it is in the AL East. It's possible that Kuroda simply won't be as effective in pinstripes as he was in Dodger blue.

But with their offense, the Yanks don't need Kuroda to be an ace. They'll take what they can get, especially if it's innings.

With Kuroda and Pineda in the mix, the Yanks have four rotation spots locked down. According to Curry, the fifth will be up for grabs between AJ Burnett, Phil Hughes and Freddy Garcia. The losers will head to the pen, and it goes without saying that you can never have too many bullpen arms.

Before today, the Yankees' starting rotation was a weakness. Now, it's a considerable strength, one strong enough to make the Yankees early favorites to represent the American League in the World Series.

So hats off to Brian Cashman. Not a bad Friday night.