The Braves announced that they have signed lefty Tyler Matzek to a two-year deal worth $3.1MM. There’s also a $5.5MM club option for 2025 with no buyout. He’ll make $1.2MM in the first year and $1.9MM in the second, according to Justin Toscano of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Matzek had Tommy John surgery in October and will likely miss the entire 2023 season.
Matzek, 32, has been a feel-good story in recent years, as he was away from baseball for a while due to “the yips.” He pitched for the Rockies in 2014 and 2015 but then dealt with control problems so bad that he was relegated to the minors for chunks of the 2016-2019 period, including missing the 2017 season entirely and pitching in indy ball in 2018. He eventually made his way back to the majors and established himself as a useful piece of the Atlanta bullpen. From 2020 to the present, he’s thrown 135 2/3 innings with a 2.92 ERA, 38.2% ground ball rate and 27.4% strikeout rate, despite a high 13.4% walk rate.
Unfortunately, his story hit a snag at the end of this season, as he was left off the club’s NLDS roster due to elbow discomfort. The next day, it was announced that he would require Tommy John surgery. Given the typical 12-18 months required to recover from such a procedure, Matzek will almost certainly miss the entire 2023 campaign.
He went into this winter with just over four years of MLB service time, meaning he still had two more years of club control via the arbitration process. Given the lengthy absence he’s facing, Atlanta could have considered non-tendering him before tonight’s deadline, but they have instead agreed to a contract that will cover both his remaining arb seasons and potentially one free agent year as well. Matzek made $1.4MM in 2022 and was projected by MLBTR contributor Matt Swartz, prior to the Tommy John news, for a bump to $1.8MM. Atlanta will pay Matzek around the same rate he got in 2022 and won’t get anything for that investment in 2023 but could see it pay off down the line. For Matzek, it’s possible that he could have found a somewhat similar deal in free agency, as teams occasionally give two-year deals to injured pitchers even when they know they won’t be healthy for the first one. But he’s decided to stick with an organization he knows, continuing to earn a paycheck while rehabbing with the knowledge that he has a job waiting for him once he’s healthy.
So a 1 year, $3.1 million deal?
Essentially. But it also means that he gets to rehab with the Braves medical/training staff, which is probably better than having to do so on his own or with a different organization that he is unfamiliar with
They don’t win the 2021 World Series without this guy. I’m glad they worked something out.
I doubt they would have non-tendered him if this wasn’t already being discussed. They’ve done a lot more for a lot less (i.e. Kirby Yates) in similar situations.
E.g.*
Yea the guy really left it all on the field during the WS run. One of the more remarkable runs a pitcher has gone in recent memory. Looked no where near himself during the 2022 season. Shows how volatile the pitching market can be.
Exactly he single handed kept the Dodgers from winning when he put out the fire that Luke Jackson put us in by striking out 3 consecutive batters including Betts and Pujols.
Four consecutive actually
I will always be thankful for Tyler Matzek, glad he’s getting to stay around.
That inning against the Dodgers with bases loaded and no outs was one of the greatest pitching performances I have ever seen, albeit a short appearance.
That one and luis avilan double play against the dodgers in 2013 , easily 2 of the best moments for a reliever in Braves history
That was seriously such a turning point in the Braves run. Felt like that Dodger barrier was about to come crashing back down on us yet again and Matzek finally moved us beyond it and the momentum took over from there.
Legend.
One of the great Phillie killers when he’s on his game. Hope to see him return healthy (though preferably with another MLB team).
That guy Is a beast, a mets fan here wishes him a speedy recovery
Good for Tyler, he wants to be in ATL and they made it happen . Rehab in 23 and hopefully get back to lights out in 24.
I like this extension of Matzek. Glad to see the Braves didn’t not tender the guy. Matzek is a Braves hero for 2021.
RESIGN DANSBY BEFORE SPREADING ALL THE MONEY ON UNCERTAINTY.
Dansby’s bat is nothing but UNCERTAINTY.
Be careful what you’re spreading, someone could catch it.
Can’t catch it. He left it all out on the field.
Get the small deals out of the way is the easy part. This doesn’t impact money they could use to get Swanson if they end up getting him. It really depends on what he is looking for and worth. Most seem to think 22-25 million average per year. 5 maybe 6 years seems the right length based on age. Maybe a team option for a 6 or 6th year. Spotrac has his value 7 years 180 million which is 25 million per year but being 29 heading into next season that means final 2 years will be 35 and 36 not sure he will have the range at SS anymore.