#16 RP

New York Mets

2014 STATS

GM 34

W3

L3

BB50

K78

ERA 3.89

NEW YORK -- Daisuke Matsuzaka's career will continue next season. But will it go on in Major League Baseball or back in his native Japan?

Matsuzaka offered no firm statement on that topic, but did say his next job would be as a starting pitcher -- not in relief, where the Mets used him for much of this season.

Matsuzaka, who turned 34 on Sept. 14, enters Sunday's season finale with a 3-3 record and 3.89 ERA in 34 appearances (nine starts) in 2014.

He last pitched in Japan in 2006, before being posted by the Seibu Lions and joining the Boston Red Sox.

"I want to start," Matsuzaka said through an interpreter about next year's plans.

Asked if he would return to Japan if that's where the opportunity to start existed, Matsuzaka added: "I think that's sort of reading too much into it. I want to start. But I haven't really put too much thought into whether it's going to be here or there anything. At this point I just want to start."