Goodyear, AZ – The Cleveland Indians made it official Wednesday and signed pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka to a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training.
Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed, but the Cleveland Plain Dealer had reported it to be worth $1.5 million if he makes the rotation with incentives that could bring the total package to $4 million.
Matsuzaka will be reunited with new Indians manager Terry Francona, who was his skipper for five seasons with the Boston Red Sox.
The 32-year-old right-hander spent six seasons in Boston and made 11 starts last year after recovering from Tommy John surgery performed in June 2011. He was 1-7 with an 8.28 ERA last year.
Matsuzaka was one of Boston's prized acquisitions prior to the 2007 season and was 33-15 in 61 starts over his first two years with the Red Sox, helping the club to a World Series title in his first campaign. He has made a total of 55 starts over the past four seasons.
In 117 games, all but one as a starter, the Japanese native owns a big league mark of 50-37 with a 4.52 ERA. He was 108-60 with a 2.95 ERA from 1999-2006 in Japan.
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