The New York Mets signed right-handed pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka to a major league deal, according to CBS Sports' Jon Heyman
Heyman tweeted the deal Thursday afternoon:
#mets agree to deal with dice-k matsuzaka. https://t.co/RxDT7rCqoW
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeymanCBS) August 22, 2013
Matsuzaka has spent the entire 2013 season with the Cleveland Indians Triple-A affiliate, but was granted his release Tuesday, and reports indicate that the Mets will bring him to the major league roster.
In 19 starts with Triple-A Columbus, Matsuzaka was 5-8 with a 3.92 ERA in 103.1 innings pitched. Reports indicate that Indians general manager Chris Antonetti was willing to let Matsuzaka part with the team once he realized there was no room for the Japanese native on the Indians roster.
The Mets could use an arm after the team recently lost Jeremy Hefner and Jenry Mejia to arm injuries, with Hefner having Tommy John surgery recommended to him, though he is going to get a second opinion to see if it's definitely necessary. That type of surgery usually requires a 12-month recovery period, meaning that Hefner could miss most--if not all--of the 2014 season.
New York showed interest in Dice-K last season, along with the Padres, Astros, Marlins and Indians, who eventually landed him.
Matsuzaka, a former Japanese superstar, started 117 career games for the Red Sox over six years, but never made it to the Indians main roster. His overall Major League record sits at 50-37 with a 4.52 ERA and 609 strikeouts. In 2008, Dice-K enjoyed his best season in a Boston uniform, posting an 18-3 record with a 2.90 ERA and 154 strikeouts, good enough for a fourth place finish in AL Cy Young Award voting.
Dice-K, who won the World Series in 2007 with the Red Sox, went 1-7 in 11 games with an 8.28 ERA in his last Major League appearances with Boston in 2012 before signing with the Indians out of free agency prior to the 2013 season.
© Copyright 2024 Sports World News, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
