Tyler

Matzek

The 34-year-old southpaw signed a minor league deal with the Cardinals in early June and was released on Monday without having appeared in a minor league game with the organization. He’s expected to report to Triple-A Memphis where he’ll function as extra bullpen depth from the left side for the Cardinals.

Matzek didn’t end up pitching anywhere in the Cardinals organization after signing a minor league pact with the club back on June 3. The 34-year-old southpaw should be able to latch on somewhere as extra organizational relief depth.

Matzek was a key cog in Atlanta’s run to a World Series title back in 2021 before injuries derailed his career. The 34-year-old southpaw made seven relief appearances earlier this year for the Yankees before being jettisoned from New York’s 40-man roster and electing free agency.

Matzek has opted for free agency. The veteran reliever was DFA’d last week after allowing three runs in 6 1/3 innings for the Yankees.

Matzek struggled in his time with the Yankees, giving up three runs over 6 1/3 innings and not looking like what was once one of the most effective relievers in baseball. If he goes unclaimed he can elect free agency, or he can report back to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. The latter seems more likely.

Matzek returned from a spring oblique injury to post a 1.93 ERA and a 5/2 K/BB in 4 2/3 innings in Triple-A. The 34-year-old southpaw was a key cog in the Braves bullpen for three years, most notably during the 2021 World Series run, but he had Tommy John surgery in 2023 and hasn’t had an easy time making it back.

Matzek is in Yankees camp this spring as a non-roster invitee and figures to open the regular season continuing to rehab in the minor leagues. The 34-year-old lefty suffered an oblique strain earlier this month and is still a few weeks away from being an option for New York’s relief mix.

Matzek was signed in February to a minor league deal and was considered a strong contender to make the roster. The 34-year-old hasn’t been able to pitch since February 28, and obviously this injury puts his roster spot in doubt. If healthy, he could be a mid-to-high leverage reliever, but staying healthy has been a major issue for Matzek throughout his career.

Matzek fortifies New York’s left-handed relief mix after being limited to just 11 appearances last year due to elbow inflammation. The 34-year-old southpaw was a high-leverage fixture for the Braves during their 2021 World Series title run, but injuries have derailed his career over the past three seasons. He’ll compete for a spot in the Yankees’ season-opening bullpen during spring training and figures to make an impact, if he stays moderately healthy.

Ragazzo says that teams who watched the session thought Matzek looked “strong and healthy.” The 34-year-old was limited to just 11 appearances last year before being sidelined with left elbow inflammation, and injury issues have been a problem for the southpaw throughout his career. Still, when on the mound Maztek has been borderline dominant at times, so it won’t be any kind of surprise if he lands a deal before the start of the 2025 campaign; even if it’s likely incentive-laden.