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Dodgers reel in Kuroda with contract
Japanese righty agrees to three-year deal worth $35.3 million
By Ken Gurnick / MLB.com
12/15/07
LOS ANGELES -- The Dodgers won the bidding war for Japanese right-handed starter Hiroki Kuroda, reaching an agreement Saturday on a three-year, $35.3 million contract.
The Dodgers have set a press conference for noon PT Sunday to officially announce the deal.
"Kuroda was arguably the best starting pitcher on the free-agent market and will be a great addition to our staff," said general manager Ned Colletti. "There was a lot of competition for a pitcher of his ilk, and we're thrilled that he's chosen to become a Dodger and to make Los Angeles his home."
Kuroda, 32, will join a rotation that already features Brad Penny, Derek Lowe and Chad Billingsley. The fifth starter will come from a group of candidates that includes Jason Schmidt and Esteban Loaiza.