For Hiroki Kuroda, it's still too early to tell where he will be next season. It could be the with Yankees. It could be with another team in MLB. It could be in his native Japan. It could be retirement.
They are all possibilities for the Yankees' veteran right-hander and new ace, who does not have a contract past this year.
"At this stage, I can't imagine what I'm going to do until the season ends," Kuroda said before the Yankees' 14-7 blowout win over the Angels Tuesday night at the Stadium.
After Robinson Cano, Kuroda ranks as the most pivotal of the Yankees' host of offseason free agents. He has become a Cy Young candidate, emerged as the team's best and most reliable starter and shown everything you would want an ace to display.
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KURODA: Nothing decided for 2014
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Kuroda, though, is non-committal on what he wants to do after this year and where he wants to be. He has signed consecutive one-year deals with the Yankees — this season's is worth $15 million — not wanting to commit for more than a year at a time. Kuroda told The Post a misconception exists he has decided he ultimately wants to end his career in Japan, saying that was not the rationale for signing one-year pacts.
"That has never been the case with what I've been thinking," he said. "But who knows?"
Kuroda was been a strong pitcher throughout his first five seasons in the majors, but this year, he has become dominant. He owns a magnificent 2.33 ERA, second-best in the AL to the Mariners' Felix Hernandez (2.28) and fourth-best in the majors going into last night, also behind the Dodgers' Clayton Kershaw (1.88) and the Mets' Matt Harvey (2.23 after Tuesday night's 4-2 loss to the Dodgers). Not too shabby company.
Though Kuroda's record is just 11-7, he has a credible Cy Young case. Could he really leave MLB after winning that award?
"Obviously it builds your confidence to have numbers like these," Kuroda said. "But at the same time, I have to finish the season and make sure I'm healthy enough to even think about making that decision."
Kuroda, who turns 39 in February, indicated his passion for the game will be instrumental in his choice, saying, "The mental part of it will be a big part of my decision."
Kuroda's departure would be quite a blow to the Yankees rotation. CC Sabathia has tailed off dramatically, Andy Pettitte and Phil Hughes are free agents and may not return, and the emergent Ivan Nova still is not a sure thing. Michael Pineda is in the wings, but he won't have pitched in the majors since 2011.
Kuroda spent his first four seasons with the Dodgers, who showed interest in re-acquiring him last winter. It is difficult to gauge what the demand for Kuroda will be, though the free-agent starter crop is thin (Matt Garza, Tim Lincecum, Josh Johnson, A.J. Burnett, etc.).
Kuroda would not commit to staying with the Yankees if he does pitch in the majors next year, diplomatically saying he would consider any team that offers him a contract.
"My approach has always been if I get an offer from any team, no matter where they're from, I will take that as seriously as possible and make a decision out of it," he said.
His decision will be critical for the Yankees.
mark.hale@nypost.com
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