Former All-Star left-hander Matt Moore has jumped across the Pacific, signing a one-year contract with the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks of Japan's Pacific League, the team announced Thursday.
The deal will pay Moore $3.5 million in 2020, and it contains another $2.5 million worth of incentives, according to Jon Heyman of MLB Network.
"We were looking for someone who can be one of our cornerstone starters," Fukuoka general manager Sugihiko Mikasa told Kyodo News. "(Moore) has had injuries, but he's a proven pitcher."
Moore only pitched in two games for the Detroit Tigers in 2019 before a knee surgery ended his season in mid-April. He signed with Detroit hoping to bounce back from a miserable 2018 campaign with the Texas Rangers, who bumped him to the bullpen after his continued struggles in the rotation.
A former top prospect, Moore ascended early in his career with the Tampa Bay Rays, helping them reach the playoffs in 2011 and 2013 as part of a vaunted young rotation. During his career-best 2013 season, Moore was named an All-Star and finished ninth in Cy Young voting.
But Tommy John surgery in early 2014 halted his rise, and he hasn't regained his form since.
The 30-year-old leaves MLB after compiling a 54-56 record with a 4.51 ERA, 1.40 WHIP, and 806 strikeouts to 369 walks in 894 2/3 innings over nine seasons with the Rays, Tigers, Rangers, and San Francisco Giants.
Moore is the latest ex-All-Star to jump from the majors to Japan this winter. Earlier this month, four-time Gold Glove outfielder Adam Jones inked a two-year deal with the Orix Buffaloes.
