Mets sign RHP Daisuke Matsuzaka

FLUSHING, N.Y., August 22, 2013 - The New York Mets today announced the club agreed to terms with righthanded pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka on a one-year contract. Matsuzaka will wear #16 and will start tomorrow's night game against Detroit. A corresponding move will be announced prior to tomorrow's game.

Matsuzaka, 32, pitched in Cleveland's organization this season, 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. He asked for and was granted his release on Tuesday, August 20.

The 6-0, 185-pound native of Tokyo, Japan last appeared in the majors in 2012 with Boston, going 1-7 with a 8.28 ERA (42 earned runs/45.2 innings) in 11 starts. He made his last start that season on October 3 at New York-AL, losing 14-2. He made his major league debut with the Red Sox in 2007, and over six seasons with the club, he went 50-37 with a 4.52 ERA (336 earned runs/668.1 innings) in 117 games, 116 starts. 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.