After Lannan struggled to start the season, the Mets promoted Dice-K to the major league roster.
The New York Mets have purchased the contract of right-hander Daisuke Matsuzaka and outrighted left-hander John Lannan off the 40-man roster, according to a team announcement. Lannan will decide within the next 72 hours if he will accept the assignment to Triple-A or elect free agency.
Matsuzaka, 33, appeared in two starts for Triple-A Las Vegas so far this season, posting a 2.25 ERA in twelve innings. He did not make the Mets out of spring training, but will now join the big league club as a long reliever out of the bullpen. New York seems set with a starting rotation of Dillon Gee, Jon Niese, Bartolo Colon, Zack Wheeler and Jenrry Mejia, so Matsuzaka will have to start in the bullpen.
Lannan, who signed a minor league deal with the Mets during the winter, has surrendered seven earned runs on seven hits in only four innings of work for the Mets this year, totaling a 15.75 ERA in five games. The 29-year old could head to Las Vegas in order to stay with his hometown organization, or could look for a job on the free agent market.