Red Sox sign Japan's Matsuzaka

BOSTON, Dec. 14 (UPI) -- Star pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka of Japan Thursday signed a six-year, multi-million-dollar contract with the Boston Red Sox.

The Boston Herald reported that, with incentives, the 26-year-old Matsuzaka could earn as much as $60 million.

Last month, the Red Sox won the rights to negotiate with Matsuzaka after a bid of $51.1 million. That money will be paid to his Japanese team, the Seibu Lions.

Matsuzaka pitched for Japan in the inaugural World Baseball Classic earlier this year and was named tournament's MVP after going 3-0. That mark included a win over Cuba in the championship game.

In eight years in the Japanese Pacific League, Matsuzaka went 108-60 with a 2.95 ERA, and 1,355 strikeouts in 204 games. In the 2006 season, he had an ERA of 2.13.

"This is definitely exciting," said Boston third baseman Mike Lowell at a news conference. "It is a move that can possibly put our rotation at another level."