Dodgers GM Ned Colletti met with starter Hiroki Kuroda yesterday, reports Dylan Hernandez of the L.A. Times. The GM told Kuroda he doesn't want to trade him and would like to have him back next year, but also wants to offer him a chance to win and will keep him apprised of inquiries.
Kuroda's contract includes a full no-trade clause, and it's been rumored that he'd block trades to the East Coast. Asked about the waiving the clause, Kuroda said, "At this point, I don't know yet." In June, Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports wrote that Kuroda would require some form of compensation to waive his no-trade.
Kuroda is one of the best starters available this summer. He's on a one-year, $12MM deal, but has an $8MM salary and a $4MM signing bonus to be paid out in 2012 and '13. So in theory the Dodgers could unload 55% of the contract ($6.6MM) for one-third of a season of Kuroda's services.
Interest in Kuroda appears strong, with the Yankees, Red Sox, Indians, and Tigers reportedly interested. Of course, none of those clubs play on the West Coast.
