With a Nikkan Sports report that Boston Red Sox pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka will undergo season-ending Tommy John surgery, it also looks like it’ll be the end of his career in Boston. That report was also confirmed by Gordon Edes of ESPN Boston.
Since his contract coming to a close at the end of the 2012 season and the recovery period from Tommy John surgery being 12-18 months, odds are the Red Sox and Dice-K will part ways then. It would probably be a smart move for both parties.
When all is said and done with his time in Boston, Matsuzaka will have cost the Red Sox $103.1 million ($51,111,111 posting fee, $52 million salary). He was a part of the 2007 World Series Championship team but never seemed comfortable in his surroundings.
Besides being a part of the 2007 team, he also had a strong 2008 where he was 18-3 with a 2.92 ERA. But he was never the same after that as injuries derailed him.
From what we’ve heard, he went about things his own way and not doing things the Red Sox way. He was used to throwing more in Japan mainly because of the fact he only had to pitch once a week. In the big leagues here, he was called upon to pitch every five days. That is of course when he was healthy.
He’ll finish his career in Boston with the one World Series ring and a record of 49-35 with a 4.25 ERA in 106 games (105 starts).
You never wish an injury upon anyone but the injury is probably a blessing in disguise.
Knowing that Dice-K’s time is done in Boston, Theo Epstein can now move forward with plans to replace him now or in the future. And for Dice-K, once his rehab is done, he’ll be able to pitch some where else where he may be more comfortable here in the states or maybe even go back to Japan where he is a hero of sorts.
Either way, it’s been a strange bumpy ride with Matsuzaka.
Photo credit: Reuters Pictures
