On Sunday, February 10, 2013, Paul Hoynes of the Cleveland Plain Dealer reported the Indians have signed free agent pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka (Dice-K) to a Minor League deal pending a physical. The Cleveland Indians have not officially confirmed the signing.
Hoynes reports Matsuzaka will make a $1.5 million base salary if he makes the club out of spring training and his deal includes an incentive structure that could bump his salary to $4 million.
Matsuzaka struggled in 2012 going 1-7 with an 8.28 ERA in 11 starts for the Boston Red Sox. He began the season in the minors as he recovered from Tommy John surgery on his right elbow the previous season. In the minors he went 1-4 with a 3.32 ERA in 13 starts.
Matsuzaka comes to camp looking to earn a spot in the back end of Cleveland’s rotation. The first three spots already belong to Justin Masterson, Ubaldo Jimenez, and Brett Myers. Zach McAllister is favored to win a spot however the fifth spot remains wide open.
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