Kuroda-san Back in the Fold

The Dodgers have re-signed starting pitcher Hiroki Kuroda to a one-year deal reportedly worth $12MM. With the signing, the rotation is starting take shape, and four of the five slots are now filled. How they fill the fifth slot remains to be seen, but there are several options.

The Dodgers could simply re-sign Vicente Padilla to a low-based, one-year deal, or sign one of other the second- or third-tiered starting pitchers on the free agent list. Or they could also dangle first baseman James Loney as trade bait, and deal him for a starting pitcher, then sign one of the many available free agent first basemen with a little more power than Loney. Adam Dunn, Paul Konerko and Derrek Lee come to mind.

Finding another power bat remains a priority for the Dodgers.

As for Kuroda, he had arguably his best and healthiest season in Blue in 2010, and the Dodgers are hoping he can repeat it in 2011. He will rejoin Clayton Kershaw, Chad Billingsley and Ted Lilly in the rotation.