BOSTON — At the end of the season, Daisuke Matsuzaka will be a free agent.
It’s been six years since the Red Sox dished out $103 million — including a $51.1 million posting fee — to ink the Japanese pitcher. With the season winding down, Matsuzaka expressed an interest in staying with the Red Sox.
“I’ve really enjoyed my time in Boston and my family has also enjoyed our time here,
so of course I’d like to [return to Boston next season],” Matsuzaka said through an interpreter. “But it’s a little early to say where I’m going to be or to be talking
about that.
“But no matter how long I’m going to be here, I’d like to wear the Red Sox uniform
with honor and play hard for the rest of season and do what I can to contribute to the team.”
Right now, Matsuzaka feels he can bolster the starting rotation. He’s coming off an
impressive outing for the Pawtucket Red Sox, where he allowed just one hit through seven
scoreless innings. The 31-year-old also struck out seven batters and walked
four.
In his mind, it’s validation that he’s healed from nagging neck pain. He could
be a candidate to replace Aaron Cook in the Red Sox rotation, considering Cook is 1-6 in his last eight starts.
“After my last start down in Pawtucket, I told Bobby [Valentine] and Randy [Niemann] that
I was good and I was ready,” Matsuzaka said. “But I haven’t spoken to
them yet this time around. I’ll be speaking to them soon and then I think a
decision will be made.”
If a verdict has been reached, Valentine declined to provide a date for Matsuzaka’s
return — or the schedule for the rest of his starters. Either way, the skipper has received strong reports about Matsuzaka.
“He threw the ball well, kept it down,” Valentine said.
“Had his location. Mixed his pitches. Came out of it alright. Just a little sore calf is what I hear. All of his things that we were dealing with seem to be OK.”
Whether it’s short-term or long-term, Matsuzaka is eyeing another chance to pitch for
the Red Sox. Now, it’s all up to the team.
Have a question for Didier Morais? Send it to him via Twitter at @DidierMorais or send it here. He will pick a few questions to answer every
week for his mailbag.
