Mets sign righthander Daisuke Matsuzaka

The New York Mets today announced the club signed righthanded pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka to a minor league contract with an invite to major league Spring Training.

Matsuzaka, 33, made seven starts for the Mets last season, going 3-3 with a 4.42 ERA (19 earned runs/38.2 innings) and 33 strikeouts. He signed with the Mets on August 22 after starting the year in Cleveland's organization, making 19 starts for Columbus (AAA) of the International League. He compiled a 5-8 record and a 3.92 ERA (45 earned runs/103.1 innings), striking out 95 and walking 39 with the Clippers.

The 6-0, 185-pound native of Tokyo, Japan is 53-40 with a 4.52 ERA in 124 games, 113 starts since making his major league debut in 2007 with Boston. The righthander had his best year in 2008, going 18-3 with a 2.90 ERA (54 earned runs/167.2 innings) in 29 starts.