Will Hiroki Kuroda return to Japan next season?

Dodgers pitcher Hiroki Kuroda is in the final year of his contract with a club that will be going through some major changes over the next six-to-eight months. It is possible we see a managerial change with Joe Torre in his final year, and the divorce of owner Frank McCourt and his wife have limited the Dodgers' ability to spend. Will this give the 35-year old a reason to jump back to Japan to finish his career?

Kuroda is 10-12 this season with a 3.39 ERA and a 1.18 WHIP, fairly consistent with his previous two years in the league. In 79 career appearances, Kuroda owns a 3.61 ERA and a 1.19 WHIP. 

Kuroda shot down a report that he plans on returning to Japan, but he certainly has not ruled it out. However, Kuroda is expected to draw sizeable interest on the open market from teams in both the NL and AL. He might be able to land another three-year deal this offseason.