Left-hander Tyler Matzek passed through waivers unclaimed and rejected an outright assignment to the minor leagues, the Yankees announced Monday. He’ll instead elect to become a free agent and explore new opportunities with other clubs (as well as a potential reunion with the Yankees on a new minor league deal).
Matzek, 34, pitched 6 1/3 innings with the Yankees before being designated for assignment last week. He held opponents to three runs but did so on a troubling 11 hits and five walks. The veteran southpaw fanned 20% of his opponents as well (seven of 35).
A former first-round pick and top prospect, Matzek has been frequently injured throughout his big league career. He had a terrific run with Atlanta in 2020-21, pitching 92 innings of 2.64 ERA ball for the Braves while punching out 31.2% of his opponents against a 12.2% walk rate. Shoulder and elbow troubles — including 2022 Tommy John surgery — have hampered him since that time.
Matzek averaged 94.5 mph with his heater in his brief time with the Yankees. That’s a bit down from his 96 mph peak in 2021 but also higher than at any point in 2022 or 2024. (He missed the 2023 season recovering from that Tommy John procedure.)
At his best, Matzek pairs a mid-90s heater with a mid-80s slider and offsets sub-par command with plus bat-missing ability. Beyond that previously mentioned 31% strikeout rate in 2020-21, Matzek notched a sharp 13.2% swinging-strike rate across those two seasons. He’s only logged an average ground-ball rate in his career (42.9%), but he’s nonetheless been hard to elevate with much authority. Matzek has averaged just 0.65 homers per nine innings in his career — and that’s despite calling Coors Field home for his first two MLB seasons with the Rockies.
AA on line 1.
I’d imagine PHI (no Alvarado) and NYM (no Minter) would be more interested for pennies on the dollar.
Yeah, the Mets are in “all hands on deck” mode with lefty relievers right now.
If we’re talking about league minimum salaries (or close to it, which this likely would be), I have to think he’d prefer to go back to Atlanta where he knows the team than those places. Braves also desperately need bullpen help.
Plus, AA hasn’t gotten the Tyler Matzek square on his “Reform the 2021 Braves” bingo card. He’ll be in Atlanta by Friday
Problem is the Braves already have some reclamation type arms in the pen. Can only carry so many bounce back guys. Considering they took on money for Montero I don’t think they will cut bait yet. And De Los Santos has been up and down but has been solid a good bit of the time. Matzek is a total shot in the dark. But he was beloved there. Got a Clemente award nomination even.
AA would have scooped him up five minutes after the posting yesterday if his last name was Chavez
He couldn’t have until Matzek declared Free Agency. They would’ve needed to go through Waivers to do it.
KBO on line 2
Maybe he can go to the Mets lav?
Sounds like a guy Jed would be dumpster diving for. He actually found gold so far with Pomeranz but at least Pomeranz has had actual success before. So ride him while he lasts. I don’t know how long they can go with Pomeranz and Thielbar but until Luke Little figures out how to throw 3 Strikes before 4 Balls I guess well find out. Little needs to learn from Palencia and Horton that the quickest way to the show is throw strikes.
Matzek has also “had actual success before.”
No, Not really.
Yes, really. He was excellent for the Braves during their WS winning season in 2021. Shut down the Dodgers in the NLCS. That’s called ” actual success.”
So they’ll be picking him up again? Good to know.
Didn’t make any kind of reference to that, but go ahead and move the goalpost if you need to.
Well Pomeranz has made over 50 million bucks in earnings and I think It beats a 2 week stretch is 2021. So move the Goal Posts back to where they should have been in the first place.
Nah, your statement was that Matzek hadn’t experienced “actual success.” He was a # 1 pick in the 2009 draft for the Rockies, made his MLB debut in 2014, and pitched in their rotation in 2014 and 2015. Pitched in 144 games for the Braves from 2020-2024 (missed 2023 due to TJS). Now you’re adding total earnings as if you mentioned that in your original snarky comment (you didn’t) that Matzek hadn’t experienced “actual success.” You made no mention of higher career earnings being the only qualifier for “actual success.”
Correcto! That is how I remember him too. He may have injury and control issues, but once this guy was nasty. Worth a shot Cards!
Brady Aiken was a #1 draft pick also so I guess he was successful too. My God.
3.73 ERA in 292 innings. That’s success.
Brady Aiken didn’t play in the majors. Matzek has pitched almost 300 innings with an ERA under 4.00. How can you compare the two?
Nats should try to sign him
He gave his left arm for that World Series!