The Cardinals announced that they have signed left-hander Tyler Matzek to a minor league deal. He has been assigned to Triple-A Memphis and will provide the club with some non-roster bullpen depth.
Matzek, 34, started the year with the Yankees on a minor league deal. He was called up to the big leagues on April 22nd and lasted almost a month before being designated for assignment on May 16th. He tossed 6 1/3 innings over seven appearances, striking out seven opponents while giving out five walks and allowing 11 hits, which resulted in three earned runs. After being bumped from the roster, he cleared waivers and elected free agency. After a couple of weeks on the open market, he has landed with a new organization.
The lefty has some good seasons on his track record but hasn’t been able to do much in recent years. From 2020 to 2022, he logged 135 2/3 innings with Atlanta, posting a 2.92 earned run average in that time. His 13.4% walk rate was quite high but he also struck out 27.4% of batters faced. He earned one save and 33 holds over that span.
In October of 2022, he required Tommy John surgery. That put him on ice through the entire 2023 season. He was back in the mix last year but it turned out to be another challenging season. By early May, he allowed 11 earned runs in 10 innings for Atlanta. He then landed on the IL due to elbow inflammation. While still on the IL, he was traded to the Giants as salary ballast in the Jorge Soler deal. The Giants released him in August and he returned to Atlanta on a minor league deal but didn’t get back to the majors.
Put it all together and Matzek has only 16 1/3 big league innings since the end of the 2022 season. Regardless, he has some past major league success and there’s no harm for the Cards in adding some non-roster depth. They currently have Steven Matz, JoJo Romero and John King as the left-handed contingent of their big league bullpen but pitching injuries are fairly inevitable for all teams. The Cards will get a close-up look at Matzek in Memphis as he tries to earn his way back to the majors.
Photo courtesy of Vincent Carchietta, Imagn Images
There’s nothing wrong with a league average lefty for depth.
I think the Yankees should have kept him.
@Across – He has no remaining options which made it hard for Yankees to keep him. Rather have Headrick who can be optioned if need be.
I’d rather see Matzek come out of the pen than Roycroft or Roddery Munoz
By the likes on the previous comment, it appears Matzek may be better than who the Cardinals currently have.
Surprised Mets didn’t sign him given their need for LH help at the MLB level.
Because because… Jose Castillo!
The 2009 version of me who collected his Bowman Chromes as a Cardinals fan is ectastic!
I guess Jesse Orosco wasn’t available.
I know a free agent by the name of Trevor Bauer who could probably really help the Cards. I can also say that signing him probably can’t draw any less fans than they have now, anyway.
He’s old and he’s vile. Other than that, good idea.
I don’t know what the love affair is with Trevor Bauer with some people.
He’s a good pitcher, but he’s a cancer in the clubhouse and would be a major distraction for the entire team. The Cardinals hsvissues and ownership is dead set against signing any players who cost too much. There excuse now is they’re focusing on building up their farm system – which is just another way of saying they’re cheap and won’t admit how bad they screwed up the team. So they have to find some sort of a scapegoat. Might as well be the players in the minors
Oh boy ANOTHER OMAN with surgery. Way to go “Lou”