GOODYEAR, Ariz. -- Daisuke Matsuzaka has been released by Cleveland but is expected to re-sign with the Indians and begin the season with their top farm team.
The team announced Sunday that it released the right-hander from the minor league contract he signed last month. The Indians informed Matsuzaka last week that he would not make their opening-day roster, and they had until Tuesday to let him go before the Japanese pitcher would have been owed a $100,000 payment under baseball's collective bargaining agreement.
Once that paperwork was cleared up, Matsuzaka was expected to re-sign with Cleveland and start the season at Triple-A Columbus.
The 32-year-old Matsuzaka allowed two runs and 10 hits over eight innings in four Cactus League outings this spring. His last appearance was March 11.