Hiroshima Carp ace Hiroki Kuroda became eligible for free agency on Wednesday, but said he has not considered what course of action, if any, he will take. "I'm glad to obtain free agency rights.
But I'll consider what to do after the season," the 31-year-old right-hander said before Wednesday's game against the Seibu Lions at Invoice Seibu Dome. The Carp are expected to ask Kuroda to stay with the team.
"We can't imagine our team without him," Carp executive Kiyoaki Suzuki said. Kuroda, who joined the Carp in 1997, is 4-3 with a 2.58 ERA in 11 starts this season. He led the Central League with 15 wins last year and has an 82-78 career record with a 3.89 ERA in 230 games.