"The Yankees denied a report on Friday that they had extended an offer to free agent Japanese righthander Hiroki Kuroda, who pitched the last four seasons with the Los Angeles Dodgers.

The report, from Japanese news outlet Sponichi, said the Bombers had proffered a one-year offer that would pay the 36-year-old $12 million. But a club official said "there has been no offer."

That the Yankees might be interested in Kuroda is no surprise. Before the non-waiver trading deadline, they engaged in talks with the Dodgers about a trade for him at a time when he was still owed about $6 million of his $12 million salary. However Kuroda said he would not waive his no-trade clause, and all talk of a deal ceased.

Kuroda was 13-16 with a 3.07 ERA in 32 starts and pitched 202 innings this past season. In four years he is 41-46 with L.A. with a 3.45 ERA.

Bombers GM Brian Cashman has five starting pitchers in CC Sabathia, Ivan Nova, A.J. Burnett, Phil Hughes and Freddy Garcia, whose signing to a $4 million one-year deal was also announced Friday. But he has made no secret that upgrading the rotation is the top priority this offseason."