Daisuke Matsuzaka wants to start, and he might have that opportunity in his native country.
The Pacific League’s Fukuoka Softbank Hawks reportedly will offer the former Boston Red Sox pitcher a four-year contract worth $3.58 million (400 million yen) annually.
Matsuzaka made his wishes clear after he had just nine starts for the New York Mets last season.
“I want to start,” Matsuzaka said. “But I haven’t really put too much thought into whether it’s going to be here or there. At this point, I just want to start.”
The 34-year-old Japanese pitcher was 3-3 last season with a 3.89 ERA in 34 appearances. He has been plagued by injuries and hasn’t pitched more than 100 innings since 2010, when he was with the Red Sox.
Photo via H. Darr Beiser/USA TODAY Sports Images
