Daisuke Matsuzaka

Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe hears that the Astros and Mets are “kicking around the possibility” of signing Daisuke Matsuzaka.

Matsuzaka will have to settle for a minor league deal, and he could wind up heading back to Japan if he doesn’t like his chances of cracking an Opening Day roster. A report from Sports Hochi last month stated that the right-hander was deciding on minor league offers from the Indians, Marlins and Mets.

Sports Hochi reports that Daisuke Matsuzaka is deciding on minor league offers from the Indians, Marlins and Mets.

There’s another report that says Matsuzaka could wind up deciding to return to Japan, but it’s an unlikely proposition at this point. Matsuzaka struggled mightily after returning from Tommy John surgery in 2012 and is looking to re-establish his value, but it sounds like he’ll have to fight for an Opening Day roster spot.

Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe suggests that Daisuke Matsuzaka is considering playing in Japan next season.

Matsuzaka struggled mightily after returning from Tommy John surgery in 2012, and is looking to reestablish his value on a one-year deal. He told Japanese media last month that his preference is play for San Diego, but there’s been no indication that the Padres are interested in signing him. If Matsuzaka doesn’t land a guaranteed contract in free agency, a return to Japan can’t be ruled out. He posted a 1-7 record, 8.28 ERA and 1.71 WHIP over 11 starts in his final season with the Red Sox.

According to Bill Center of the San Diego Union-Tribune, the Padres have free agent right-hander Daisuke Matsuzaka high on their wish list.

Matsuzaka struggled mightily after returning from Tommy John surgery in 2012, compiling a 1-7 record, 8.28 ERA and 1.71 WHIP over 11 starts. He has told the Japanese media that he likes the idea of pitching in San Diego, and a one-year incentive laden deal might be worth the risk for both sides.

Daisuke Matsuzaka was rocked for five runs on six hits and two home runs in just 2 1/3 innings of Boston’s season-ending, 14-2 loss to the Yankees.

It was a fitting end to both the sound and fury of the one-year Bobby Valentine “era” in Boston, and Dice-K’s mostly disappointing six-year tenure as a member of the Red Sox. Matsuzaka finishes 2012 the owner of an absurdly bad 8.28 ERA, 1.71 WHIP and 41/20 K/BB across 45 2/3 frames. As for his six years in Beantown, he closes up shop with a 4.52 mark in 668 1/3 innings. Not exactly what the Red Sox had in mind when they shelled out a total of $103 million in 2007. The 32-year-old righty could be headed back to Japan.

The Red Sox are planning to start Daisuke Matsuzaka in the final game of the regular season.

The Red Sox are planning to skip Daisuke Matsuzaka’s next scheduled start, allowing Zach Stewart to make a spot start.

Matsuzaka will still make one more start before the end of the season, they just want to give him a bit of a breather. Through his first 10 starts on the season, he owns a horrifying 7.68 ERA and 1.64 WHIP in 43 1/3 innings.

Daisuke Matsuzaka was roughed up in Wednesday’s loss to the Rays, allowing five runs on nine hits and two home runs in just three innings of work.

It was just the latest dud for a hurler who’s now sporting a 7.68 ERA, 1.64 WHIP and 39/19 K/BB ratio across 43 1/3 innings and 10 starts. An impending free agent, Matsuzaka certainly won’t be back with the Red Sox in 2013.

Daisuke Matsuzaka was unimpressive in a no-decision against the Blue Jays on Friday, allowing four runs on three hits over his 5 1/3 innings.

He racked up five strikeouts while walking three in the game. Most of the damage came in the third inning, with runs scoring on a wild pitch, base-on-balls and an RBI groundout. He’s been very ineffective thus far, posting a 1-5 record, 7.14 ERA and 37/18 K/BB ratio over 40 1/3 innings. He?ll look for better results when he squares off against the Rays in Tampa Bay on Wednesday.