Phil

Maton

Jon Heyman reported earlier today that Maton is guaranteed $14.5 million. The 32-year-old posted a career-best 2.79 ERA while throwing 60-plus innings for a fifth straight season in 2025. Also important was that his velocity crept back up; his 90.4 mph average on his fastball is well below average, but it’s two mph better than where he was in 2024. He’ll probably work as a setup man in the Cubs pen.

He could make an additional $500,000 in incentives over the two seasons. Maton will probably wind up as a setup man in Chicago, though that’s still to be determined. As of right now, it’d presumably be he and Daniel Palencia for the eighth and ninth, but the team still could bring a big-name closer.

Maton will also get a club option for 2028. The 32-year-old pitched for the Rangers and Cardinals in 2025 while compiling a 2.79 ERA over 61 1/3 innings with a K/BB ratio of 81/23. He’ll be a high-leverage option for Chicago, but seems unlikely to be the closer for the Cubs which limits the fantasy value considerably.

Maton was tasked with protecting a two-run lead in the final frame and needed just 14 pitches (eight strikes) to slam the door. The 32-year-old veteran proved to be a worthwhile pickup at the trade deadline to bolster Texas’ high-leverage mix, but an avalanche of injuries to significant contributors wound up torpedoing their playoff aspirations.

It looked like the Rangers would give Shawn Armstrong a chance for a two-inning save today, but after retiring four in a row, he walked Isaac Collins with one out in the ninth. Maton entered then and retired Brice Turang and Jackson Chourio for his first save since Aug. 5. Armstrong remains the favorite for saves in Texas.

Maton entered in the eighth inning with runners on first and third with no outs and a two-run lead. He allowed multiple walks to bring home a run and a two-run single to Alejandro Kirk, which gave the Blue Jays the lead. Maton isn’t endearing himself to his teammates or his manager right now as this isn’t his first blown save since being acquired at the trade deadline.

Maton entered with one on and two outs in the eighth and struck out Tyler Locklear to end the inning. He then struck out Jake McCarthy and Alek Thomas to start the ninth in a two-run game, but a stunning meltdown followed. He gave up a homer to James McCann, hit Blake Alexander, walked Geraldo Perdomo and surrendered another homer to Ketel Marte. Maton had allowed just one homer in 43 1/3 innings this season coming into the day. He’s still probably the favorite for saves in Texas, but he better not blow another chance right away.

Garcia has mostly been held back for the ninth in recent months, but he pitched the seventh in a tie game today in his first appearance since leaving Sunday’s game with back spasms. This makes three straight outings in which he’s given up a run, and Phil Maton has overtaken him as the Rangers’ reliever worth rostering right now.

With Robert Garcia (back) still unavailable, Rangers’ skipper Bruce Bochy turned to Maton to protect an absolute gem from Nathan Eovaldi. He allowed a leadoff single to Ryan McMahon to bring the tying run to the plate, but got Giancarlo Stanton to bounce into a double play and then retired Trent Grisham on a swinging third strike to end it. The 32-year-old may be the go-to option in the ninth inning until Garcia returns and could be worth a short-term look in deeper mixed leagues.

Garcia underwent an MRI over the weekend that didn’t reveal anything serious after exiting Saturday’s relief outing against the Mariners with back spasms. As fantasy managers are aware, back issues can be tricky matters, but it sounds like he’s not dealing with an issue that would require a trip to the injured list. He’ll continue to handle the closing duties for Texas with recently added veteran Phil Maton probably in the mix as well.