Hiroki Kuroda has been diagnosed with a bruised right middle finger and will undergo an X-ray.

It's an expected diagnosis, as we won't know anything for sure until the results of the X-ray are in. Kuroda had to leave Wednesday's start after a line drive deflected off his pitching hand and into center field.

Hiroki Kuroda left Wednesday's start in the second inning after a line drive hit his pitching hand.

Kuroda tried to barehand a liner up the middle, but, predictably, the ball just grazed off his pitching hand. He stayed in the game initially but eventually left after walking and then hitting a batter. It was a cold night at Yankee Stadium, and Kuroda understandably was probably struggling for a feel of his pitches. He'll probably be OK, but the Yankees should update his status soon. Kuroda was charged with two runs on four hits and a walk over 1 1/3 innings.

Hiroki Kuroda allowed just one hit over six scoreless innings versus the Pirates on Thursday.

Kuroda struck out five and walked none. One of the Grapefruit League's strongest pitchers this spring, he'll head into the regular season with a 1.53 ERA and a 15/2 K/BB ratio in 17 2/3 innings. That doesn't even count his strong showing in an exhibition against the Dominican Republic's lineup of All-Stars three weeks back.

Hiroki Kuroda fanned six in four scoreless innings Monday in the Yankees' 4-0 shutout of the Cardinals.

Kuroda has been really sharp his last two times out, first in quieting the Dominican Republic's lineup of All-Stars and today in shutting down the Cardinals' 'B' team. It's a good thing for the other semifinalists that he won't be pitching for Japan next week.

Hiroki Kuroda quieted the Dominican Republic's bats for three innings Wednesday, striking out four.

Kuroda was shaky against the Phillies his first time out, but he seemed to be in regular-season form today. Apart from the three scoreless innings against Kuroda, the Dominican Republic has scored 23 runs in 15 innings the last two days.

Yankees re-signed RHP Hiroki Kuroda to a one-year, $15 million contract.

He'll have a chance to earn a little less than $1 million in performance-based incentives. Kuroda will turn 38 in February, but he could have netted a two-year deal from someone if he wanted. Instead, he'll stay where he's comfortable before possibly returning to Japan after the season.

Buster Olney of ESPN.com reports that the Yankees have re-signed Hiroki Kuroda to a one-year contract.

Financial terms of the deal aren't available at this time, but it will obviously be for a bit more than the $13.3 million Kuroda declined when the Yanks made him a qualifying offer. Kuroda could have gotten a multi-year deal from another team, but he preferred to sign for just one year so that he could possibly return to Japan after next season.

According to ESPN's Jayson Stark, the Yankees are "very confident" they'll be able to re-sign Hiroki Kuroda.

Stark says the Angels and Dodgers -- the other major contenders for Kuroda's services -- have already shifted their focus elsewhere. The 37-year-old righty rejected a one-year, $13.3 million qualifying offer from the Yankees earlier this month and is likely to wind up signing for closer to $16 million. Look for a deal to be finalized soon.

FOX Sports' Ken Rosenthal reports that the consensus among league executives is that Hiroki Kuroda will remain with the Yankees next season or return to Japan.

The Dodgers, Red Sox, and Angels are among the teams interested in Kuroda, but the expectation is that he'll re-sign with the Yankees. Returning to Japan is also a consideration. Kuroda, who turns 38 in February, was the Yankees' most consistent starter in 2012, and would provide stability to their rotation if brought back. He rejected a $13.3 million qualifying offer earlier this offseason.

Fox Sports' Ken Rosenthal reports that the consensus among league executives is that Hiroki Kuroda will either stay with the Yankees next season or return to Japan.

The Dodgers, Red Sox, and Angels are among the teams interested in Kuroda, but the expectation is that he'll re-sign with the Yankees. Returning to Japan is also a legitimate consideration for Kuroda, who turns 38 in February. He rejected a $13.3 million qualifying offer earlier this offseason.

Joel Sherman of the New York Post reports that the Yankees are only willing to offer Hiroki Kuroda a one-year contract.

It's a little surprising but something that might not be a deal-breaker in Kuroda's case given that he wants to return to Japan while he's still able to pitch at a high level. The Dodgers and Angels, Sherman says, "probably would be willing to offer at least a two-year pact." Sherman adds that the Yanks likely would be willing to pay Kuroda $15-16 million on a one-year deal.

According to Mark Saxon of ESPN Los Angeles, Hiroki Kurodda has told friends that his first preference is to pitch in Southern California.

CBS Sports' Jon Heyman reports that the Angels have joined the hunt for free agent Hiroki Kuroda.

The Dodgers, Red Sox and Yankees are also in the mix. And there's still a chance that Kuroda will simply decide to head back to Japan. The 37-year-old right-hander posted a stellar 3.32 ERA, 1.17 WHIP and 167/51 K/BB ratio in 219 2/3 innings this past season for New York.

Hiroki Kuroda has declined the Yankees' one-year, $13.3 million qualifying offer.

Yankees general manager Brian Cashman expected Kuroda to decline, so this doesn't come as a big surprise. The 37-year-old right-hander is open to returning to the Yankees, but he's also drawing interest from teams like the Red Sox and Dodgers. The Yankees will receive a compensatory draft pick if he signs with another club.

Yankees general manager Brian Cashman expects Hiroki Kuroda to decline the team's qualifying offer.

For what it's worth, Kuroda said he has yet to make up his mind. The 37-year-old would make $13.3 million if he accepts, which would have been a notable bump up from his $10 million salary in 2012. But, he can get a two-year deal from someone if he wants or could decide to return to Japan.

According to Dylan Hernandez of the Los Angeles Times, Hiroki Kuroda is drawing interest from "several teams," with some of them willing to offer a two-year deal.

It's not surprising that teams are willing to give Kuroda two years, but it remains to be seen if he's willing to take it. The right-hander is said to prefer a one-year deal so that he can then return to Japan. The Yankees, Red Sox and Dodgers are among the clubs interested in Kuroda.

Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com writes that free agent right-hander Hiroki Kuroda appears to be the Dodgers' top choice for their rotation.

The Dodgers are looking at Anibal Sanchez among other pitchers, but would really love to bring Kuroda back. The 37-year-old right-hander has also received interest from the Red Sox, so he's not exactly a sure thing to return to the Bronx next season. The expectation is that he'll turn down the Bombers' one-year, $13.3 million qualifying offer by Friday, but he is reportedly willing to sign a one-year deal.

FOX Sports' Jon Paul Morosi reports that the Red Sox have "reached out" to free agent Hiroki Kuroda.

The Dodgers have also been linked to Kuroda, and the Yankees are sure to attempt to re-sign him. There's also a chance that the 37-year-old right-hander will simply decide to head back to his native Japan. Kuroda posted a 3.32 ERA, 1.17 WHIP and 167/51 K/BB ratio in 219 2/3 innings this past season for New York.

According to Jon Heyman of CBS Sports, the Yankees "sense their best competition" to sign free agent right-hander Hiroki Kuroda will come from Japan.

Kuroda had a fantastic 2012 season with New York, but he turns 38 years old in February and may want to head back home for good. The native of Osaka, Japan has a 3.42 ERA and 1.18 WHIP in over 918 career MLB innings. Other major league teams are interested, but it sounds like Kuroda is deciding between only two destinations.

Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe reports that the Dodgers would "love" to bring back Hiroki Kuroda.

Kuroda, 37, is coming off a terrific year with the Yankees but only wants to sign a one-year deal so that he'll be able to return to Japan after the season if he chooses to do so. He seems likely to re-up with New York but will have no shortage of suitors if he decides to explore the market.