Matsuzaka has signed a contract with the Softbank Hawks of Japan's Pacific League, the Associated Press reports.

Matsuzaka pitched decently with the Mets this past season, with a 3.89 ERA and 78 strikeouts in 83.1 innings. Still he's not the same pitcher who took the league by storm with the Red Sox during the previous decade, and it's a good bet the 34-year-old will finish out his career in his homeland.

Matsuzaka has apparently decided to pitch in Japan next season with the Fukuoka Softbank Hawks expressing interest in signing him, the Japan Times reports.

It's still possible that Matsuzaka may only want to return to Japan if he doesn't get an offer from a MLB team, so he may wait awhile to make a decision.

Matsuzaka (elbow) tossed three scoreless innings, scattering one hit and three walks with one strikeout, in Thursday's loss to the Nationals.

A bout of elbow inflammation cost Matsuzaka close to two weeks, but he returned Thursday and ate three innings after starter Bartolo Colon was driven from the game early. Look for Matsuzaka to continue serving as a long man out of the bullpen over the remainder of the season.

Matsuzaka received a cortisone shot Tuesday to treat his elbow inflammation, ESPN New York reports.

Matsuzaka missed a month with the injury but returned after making three rehab appearances in the minors. He pitched twice for the Mets before getting shut down again. Dice-K is expected to join the Mets in Cincinnati and be available out of the bullpen Friday.

Matsuzaka (elbow), who was just activated off the disabled list Thursday, will remain in New York to see the team's doctors, ESPNNewYork.com reports.

Matsuzaka could be shut down for the balance of the year with only a month left, depending on what the doctors find.

Matsuzaka (elbow) was activated from the 15-day DL Thursday.

Matsuzaka hasn't pitched since July 24 due to elbow soreness, but has steadily been throwing bullpen sessions and making rehab starts for roughly a month. He'll return to the Mets in place of Vic Black, who was placed on the 15-day DL in a corresponding move to make room for Matsuzaka. Until he earns a late-inning bullpen or fifth starter role, there's not much to get excited about here in terms of fantasy value.

The Mets appear prepared to wait until rosters expand to activate Matsuzaka (elbow), ESPNNewYork.com reports.

According to GM Sandy Alderson, Matsuzaka threw "pretty extensively" on Monday, enough to preclude the right-hander from having to make another rehab start for short-season Brooklyn on Thursday. However, it sounds like the Mets may still wait until next week to activate Matsuzaka, unless they're able to unload Bartolo Colon or another starter in the coming days.

Matsuzaka (elbow) threw an extensive bullpen session Tuesday that likely will preclude him from starting for Brooklyn of the New York-Penn League on Thursday. In addition, there is a good chance he is activated prior to September 1, ESPN New York reports.

Matsuzaka has looked good in his rehab starts and had no problems with his injured elbow. The Mets may go to a six-man rotation in September to give Jacob DeGrom more rest and enable Rafael Montero to see some starts. Dice-K may be part of that rotation but also work out of the bullpen the last month of the season.

Matsuzaka (elbow) allowed two hits and two walks while striking out seven in five shutout innings during a rehab start for Brooklyn of the New York-Penn League on Thursday.

This was Matsuzaka's third rehab start, during which he allowed one run in 14 innings of work. Dice-K has shown he is ready to return and likely will be activated next week, but it remains to be seen who will be sent down to make room for him and what role Matsuzaka will play.

Matsuzaka (elbow) will make another rehab start this week, probably for short-season Brooklyn on Thursday.

With Jacob deGrom returning this week, there's no room in the rotation for Sunday's starter Rafael Montero, let alone Dice-K, so the Mets' plans for him remain murky.

Matszuaka (elbow) allowed one run on three hits while striking out three over six innings to pick up the win in his second rehab start; this one for Double-A Binghamton on Saturday.

Matsuzaka needed just 69 pitches to get through the six innings, which comes on the heels of 39 pitches and three scoreless frames Monday at High-A St. Lucie. He may make one more rehab start before rejoining the Mets, but it remains to be seen if it will be as a starter or reliever, dependent on the status of Jacob deGrom (shoulder tendinitis) and Rafael Montero (pitching effectiveness).

Matsuzaka (elbow) will make his second rehab start Saturday in Game 1 of a doubleheader for Double-A Binghamton, ESPN New York reports.

Matsuzaka threw three scoreless innings and 39 pitches during his first rehab appearance at High-A St. Lucie on Monday. His future role is partially dependent on Jacob deGrom's return from shoulder tendinitis as well as how well Rafael Montero pitches filling in for deGrom.

Matsuzaka (elbow) threw three scoreless innings during his first rehab appearance at High-A St. Lucie on Monday, ESPN reports. "It's been a while since I've pitched in a game, so my focus was on how I prepared and how I went in to the game," Matsuzaka said. "I was able to do that pretty well. Everything went smoothly. I'd give it a 10."

It was encouraging outing for Matsuzaka, who allowed only one hit while striking out three batters on 39 total pitches. If he continues to progress smoothly, he'll make only one or two more rehab starts before returning to the Mets.

Matsuzaka (elbow) will pitch in a rehab assignment Monday, but will require one or two more starts before rejoining the team, Adam Rubin of ESPN New York reports.

Matsuzaka went on the disabled list July 26, but is now nearing a return to the bullpen. He threw a 38-pitch bullpen session Saturday, but will start in rehab assignments in the minors. It's possible Matsuzaka could return to the rotation if Jacob DeGrom's shoulder MRI Monday results in a stint on the disabled list, but for now it looks as though the veteran is scheduled to return to the bullpen when healthy.

Matsuzaka (elbow) threw 38 pitches during his bullpen session Saturday, Matt Ehalt of The Record reports.

With this bullpen session under his belt, Matsuzaka will be aiming for a rehab assignment sometime next week. If all goes accordingly, he'll be able to join the Mets' bullpen for the final stretch of the season.

Matsuzaka (elbow) is slated to throw a bullpen session Saturday, ESPNNewYork.com reports.

Matsuzaka returned to elevated ground Wednesday and will get more mound work in Saturday in anticipation of beginning a rehab assignment early next week. He will likely start off in the Florida State League, with an eye toward returning to the Mets' bullpen for the final six weeks or so of the season.

Mets manager Terry Collins said Wednesday that Matsuzaka (elbow) will likely need to complete a minor league rehab assignment before being activated, MLB.com reports.

Although Matsuzaka remains limited to throwing off flat ground, it sounds like he could resume mound work in the coming days. Collins said Matsuzaka will likely need a rehab assignment even if he ultimately returns to the bullpen, but suggested the right-hander could start pitching in minor league games by early next week.

Matsuzaka (elbow) may be ready to return when he's first eligible to do so August 9, the Mets' official site reports.

After throwing Friday on flat ground with no discomfort, Matsuzaka is scheduled to increase his distance and throw again Saturday. If everything goes as planned, Matsuzaka will progress to a bullpen session next week.

Daisuke Matsuzaka (elbow) is expected to resume throwing in 3-4 days.

Matsuzaka doesn't have an structural damage in his right elbow and anti-inflammatory medication has reduced the swelling. He's eligible to return from the DL on August 9 and it sounds like he'll have a shot to be ready at that time.

Daisuke Matsuzaka does not need elbow surgery.

But he's not quite out of the woods yet. Matsuzaka was placed on the disabled list Saturday with elbow inflammation and won't pick up a baseball for another 7-10 days. It's possible he won't make it back this year.