MLB

Kuroda coming back to Yankees for $15 million

With dependable Hiroki Kuroda returning for the 2013 season, it appears the Yankees’ rotation has a solid chance to look exactly like it did last season.

Kuroda and the club agreed Tuesday to a one-year deal for $15 million and $500,000 worth of incentives.

The deal is a win for each side. The Yankees aren’t offering free agents more than one year, and Kuroda, 38 in February, is taking it one year at a time despite being able to command a multi-year contract after going 16-11 with a 3.32 ERA in 33 starts in his first year in the muscular AL.

“We had a strong preference of retaining him, and I suspect it was a very aggressive market for him,’’ general manager Brian Cashman said. “We feel fortunate we were able to acquire him last year, and I feel the same way this year. He is a pro.’’

One the Yankees needed more than he needed them.

“I am very happy and excited to re-sign with the Yankees,” Kuroda said in a statement. “I am very grateful for all of the interest and all of the offers that I received from the various teams that courted me. It was a tough decision for me to make, but at the end of the day, I wanted to try to win a championship with the teammates that I went to battle with last season.”

Because the Yankees expect Andy Pettitte to inform them he wants to return for an 18th major league season, the club can expect to have a familiar look to the rotation.

Ace CC Sabathia should be ready for the April 1 Opening Day gig against the Red Sox after having bone spurs removed from the left elbow. Kuroda, who was the Yankees’ best starter in the second half, falls into the No. 2 slot followed by Pettitte, who was 5-4 with a 2.87 ERA in 12 starts. Sixteen-game winner Phil Hughes has a spot locked. Ivan Nova, a disappointment last year, and David Phelps will fight for the fifth spot, although Cashman sounded as if Nova has a spot secured.

Kuroda’s return is the result of the Yankees putting an early offseason emphasis on pitching.

Catcher Russell Martin remains a free agent, and there is no replacement from within for right fielder Nick Swisher. But the Yankees, who watched closer Rafael Soriano become a free agent, made their rotation, a positive during the ALDS and ALCS, a priority.

Yes, there is age on it. But only Sabathia, 32, is signed beyond next year.

Keeping last year’s rotation intact gives the Yankees’ pitching prospects, a collective disappointment last year, another season to develop and turn into the financial relief that Hal Steinbrenner wrongly believed they could be at the beginning of spring training last year.

Of course, it remains questionable that Manuel Banuelos, Dellin Betances and Michael Pineda will all do that.

Following a shaky beginning after four years in the NL, Kuroda, admitted he needed to adjust to the AL hitters. After losing to the Royals on May 21, Kuroda was 3-6 with a 4.56 ERA. He rebounded by going 13-5 with a 2.92 ERA in the final 24 starts and 0-1 with a 2.81 ERA in two post-season starts.

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For the second straight day Cashman said there is nothing to report on contract talks with Mariano Rivera. The general manager also said he believes Derek Jeter will be the Opening Day shortstop.