Dice K Signs with the Indians

[a700hitter]

Guardians sign pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka to a minor-league deal

By Chris Cwik | CBSSports.com

February 10, 2013 12:28 pm ET

 

The Guardians have signed pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka to a minor-league deal, according to CBSSports.com's Jon Heyman. Matsuzaka can make up to $4 million. If he passes his physical and makes the team, he will earn a base salary of $1.5 million, according to Paul Hoynes of the Cleveland Plain Dealer.

 

The-32-year-old righty spent most of last season recovering from Tommy John surgery. He tossed 45 2/3 innings with the Red Sox, with an 8.28 ERA and a 5.94 FIP. Matsuzaka still managed to strikeout hitters at an acceptable rate but gave up 11 home runs in 45 2/3 winnings.

 

The Red Sox paid a $51.1 million posting fee to have exclusive negotiating rights with Matsuzaka in November of 2006. They eventually signed him to a six-year, $52 million deal. In those six seasons, Dice-K had a 4.52 ERA over 668 1/3 innings with the team.

 

There's a chance Matsuzaka plays a role with the Guardians this season. The club's rotation is considered a weak spot. Justin Masterson and Ubaldo Jimenez have been useful pitchers, but they are coming off terrible seasons.

 

Brett Myers has been a decent starter over his career but will be converting back to the role after a season in the bullpen.

 

Trevor Bauer, acquired during the offseason, was considered one of the best pitching prospects in baseball prior to last season and should get a shot in the rotation this year. The fifth spot will go to Zach McAllister, Carlos Carrasco or Corey Kluber.

 

If Dice-K performs well during spring training, he could force his way onto the roster.

 

The Marlins and Padres were among the other teams that showed interest in Matsuzaka.

 

Good riddance. It was torture watching him pitch, even before his injuries started.

[VA Sox Fan]

Poor Tito!

[italstallianion]

From a ridiculous posting fee (and contract) with the Red Sox to a minor league deal with the Guardians...I haven't seen Enron stock fall that quickly.

[iortiz]

100 MUSD contract to a minor-league one? Wow!, That's what I call a steal.

[Palodios]

Hopefully they'll call him up when the Guardians face the Red Sox.

[BSN07]

He's gonna get tuned up. He should have gone to the NL if he had the opportunity.

[Lucienbel]

Hopefully they'll call him up when the Guardians face the Red Sox.

 

I'd love for us to get a chance to actually be the ones on that end of the ball against him.

[jacksonianmarch]

His stuff was never in question, it was his location and his backwards pitching that was in question. This will be a telling season for him. Either he finally relents and makes the club and excels or he continues to be pigheaded and fades into obscurity into the minors. My bet is on the latter with him returning to Japan next yr

[a700hitter]

His stuff was never in question, it was his location and his backwards pitching that was in question. This will be a telling season for him. Either he finally relents and makes the club and excels or he continues to be pigheaded and fades into obscurity into the minors. My bet is on the latter with him returning to Japan next yr

I think his stuff is gone.

[jacksonianmarch]

I still saw a few mid 90s heaters there. He doesnt consistently sit in the mid 90s anymore, but he isnt a soft throwing guy by any means

[SouthieFanatic]

Doesn't his deal max out at like 1.5 million with all incentives? Poor Dice-K

[Laser Show]

Here comes the inevitable 18-5, 3.25 era season..

[RedSoxfanforlife305]

I still saw a few mid 90s heaters there. He doesnt consistently sit in the mid 90s anymore, but he isnt a soft throwing guy by any means

 

Cause he's not on the Red Sox.

[BigPapiEnFuego]

Good luck to Indian's fans, with the combination of FRancona as manager and Dice-K possibly in the rotation they better prepare for an average game time of 7 hours and Dice-K being left in for 145 pitches with an 8 run deficit through 4 innings

[a700hitter]

Mets To Sign Daisuke Matsuzaka

By Steve Adams

[August 22 at 11:00am CST]

 

The Mets have agreed to a Major League deal with right-hander Daisuke Matsuzaka, according to Jon Heyman of CBS Sports. The 32-year-old Matsuzaka, who asked for his release from the Guardians on Tuesday, will go directly to the big leagues with New York, Heyman adds.

 

Matsuzaka, who is represented by Scott Boras, posted a 3.92 ERA with 8.3 K/9 and 3.4 BB/9 in 103 1/3 innings for the Triple-A Columbus Clippers this season. Prior to his release, he'd been particularly effective, pitching to a 2.17 ERA with a 39-to-8 K/BB ratio in 49 2/3 innings in seven starts. The Mets have recently lost Jeremy Hefner and Jenrry Mejia to injuries, so taking a flier on Matsuzaka makes sense for GM Sandy Alderson.

Another chance for Dice K

[Station 13]

Mets are awful, adding someone like Dice-K who will not help them.

[Thunder]

Mets are awful, adding someone like Dice-K who will not help them.

 

He's their best starter besides Harvey.

[a700hitter]

He's their best starter besides Harvey.

Wheeler is pretty good.

[Thunder]

Wheeler is pretty good.

 

I guess so. 6-2 with a 3.49 is something to be proud of.

[Divinity]

I guess so. 6-2 with a 3.49 is something to be proud of.

 

Wheeler's not even in his prime yet, 23 years old with fastball that can hit 100 mph and curve that are both considered plus pitches.

 

He's also working on his slider which is expected to develop to have a sharper and longer break going from right to left of the strike zone. He has the potential to be a future Ace.

[a700hitter]

I guess so. 6-2 with a 3.49 is something to be proud of.

He started the season in the minors. He has a elite arm and he has done well since his call up. I wish we had him.

[Thunder]

He started the season in the minors. He has a elite arm and he has done well since his call up. I wish we had him.

 

I wish we had Harvey. He's a fellow Nutmeger.

[a700hitter]

I wish we had Harvey. He's a fellow Nutmeger.

Some people in the Mets organization rate Wheeler's stuff as superior to Harvey.

[Thunder]

Some people in the Mets organization rate Wheeler's stuff as superior to Harvey.

 

Really? I think it's fair to say that I didn't know that.