By Lucia Mutikani WASHINGTON (Reuters) -U.S. job openings unexpectedly rose in December and data for the prior month was revised higher, suggesting the labor market likely remains too strong for the Federal Reserve to start cutting interest rates in the first quarter. A rate cut this year, however, remains in the cards with the report from the Labor Department on Tuesday also showing Americans staying put at their current jobs, which could help to slow wage growth. The number of people quitting their jobs, likely in part for greener pastures, dropped to a two-year low. Fed officials are expect…