Report: Mets Agree To Deal With Pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- The Mets have agreed to a deal with starting pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka, sources have told WFAN/CBSSports.com baseball insider Jon Heyman.
According to Heyman, Matsuzaka is expected to be on the major-league roster once the deal is finalized.
The 32-year-old was released by the Indians, per his request, this past Tuesday. He pitched for the Red Sox from 2007-2012, winning a World Series title in his first major-league season. He became a free agent following the 2012 campaign and subsequently signed a minor-league deal with Cleveland on February 10.
The Japanese-born pitcher spent the 2013 season in the minor leagues, never appearing in a game for the Indians. In 19 starts for the Triple-A Columbus Clippers, Matsuzaka went 5-8 with a 3.92 ERA. He allowed 93 hits and 11 home runs in 103 1/3 innings pitched. The right-hander struck out 95 batters and walked 39.
In 2006, after outbidding the Rangers, Mets and Yankees for the rights to negotiate with Matsuzaka, the Red Sox signed the two-time World Baseball Classic MVP to a six-year, $52 million contract.
He won 15 games in his rookie season and 18 in his sophomore campaign. He won just 17 games in his final four years in Boston.
The Matsuzaka signing makes sense because of the state of New York's starting rotation. Jeremy Hefner will likely undergo Tommy John Surgery, and Jenrry Mejia is expected to have surgery to remove a bone spur in his elbow. Mejia was placed on the disabled list this past weekend.
And Matt Harvey and Zack Wheeler, the two young studs at the top of the rotation, will likely be limited in the month of September.
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