Star pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka has decided to sit out next month's MLB-NPB All-Star Series. Matsuzaka, who is expected to sign with a major-league team in the offseason, has said he will not be able to play for the Japanese select team because he wanted to focus on his conditioning, tour organizers said.
Matsuzaka, who has drawn interest from several major-league teams including the New York Yankees, finished the 2006 regular season with a career-high 17 wins against five losses.
The right-hander posted a 2.13 earned run average and 200 strikeouts for the Seibu Lions this season. Kazumi Saito, who won 18 games for the Fukuoka Softbank Hawks this season, is among the leading candidates to replace Matsuzaka.
(Associated Press)