Report: Indians sign Matsuzaka
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The Cleveland Indians have reportedly signed pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka to a minor league deal.
According to the Cleveland Plain Dealer on Sunday, Matsuzaka will earn $1.5 million if he breaks into the Indians' rotation, with incentives that could balloon his salary to $4 million.
Matsuzaka, 32, returned from Tommy John surgery last season and struggled to a 1-7 record and an egregious 8.28 earned-run average over 11 starts with Boston.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}A native of Tokyo, Japan, "Dice-K" was a prized acquisition of the Red Sox prior to the 2007 season. He recorded 200 strikeouts his first season and pitched to a 2.90 ERA in 2008, but his next four years were remarkably inconsistent.
New Indians manager Terry Francona was Matsuzaka's skipper his first five seasons in the big leagues.
Over 117 career games -- all but one of them being starts -- Matsuzaka compiled a 50-37 record with a 4.52 ERA and 1.42 walks/hits per inning pitched.