Padres Rumors: Daisuke Matsuzaka wants to pitch in San Diego

Daisuke Matsuzaka is hoping to re-establish his value after fizzling out with the Boston Red Sox, and he thinks the San Diego Padres would be a good fit, according to Bill Center of the San Diego Union-Tribune.

Daisuke Matsuzaka, whose once promising U.S. career was sidetracked by elbow reconstruction surgery in 2011, has told members of the Japanese media that he likes the idea of possibly restarting in San Diego. It seems he liked the city and the ballpark when he pitched at Petco Park in the first World Baseball Classic.

Dice-K ended his Red Sox career on a low note, posting a 8.28 ERA over 11 starts last season. Boston paid over $50 million for the bidding rights for Matsuzaka, then signed him to a six-year, $52 million contract.

In 2008, Matsuzaka finished fourth in American League Cy Young voting after going 18-3 with a 2.90 ERA. Over the past four seasons, Dice-K has averaged just 74 innings per year and had an ERA of 5.54.

Petco Park has been the most extreme pitchers park in baseball, but the fences are coming in for 2013. The changes aren't drastic enough to turn Petco into a hitter's haven, but they'll certainly make some impact.

Center also reported money is not the biggest factor for Dice-K, so this could be an easy deal to get done if there's interest from the Padres' end.