The Yankees continue bolstering their roster, signing left-handed reliever Tyler Matzek to a minor league deal. Chris Cotillo of MassLive reports Matzek impressed scouts during a recent showcase.
It’s another calculated move for New York, who’s been aggressive this offseason after adding Max Fried, Devin Williams, Cody Bellinger, and Paul Goldschmidt to their roster. The signing comes on the heels of losing Juan Soto to the crosstown Mets.
Matzek’s looking for a bounce-back after missing 2023 with the Giants due to injury. His last appearance came with Atlanta in 2022, where he posted a 3.50 ERA and 4-2 record across 42 outings. The lefty’s struggled since then, putting up a 9.90 ERA in 11 appearances when he tried returning to the Braves.
What makes this interesting is Matzek’s postseason pedigree. He was a key piece in Atlanta’s 2021 World Series run, their first title since ’95. That experience could prove valuable for a Yankees club that went 94-68 last season and made a deep playoff push.
The way I see it, this is exactly the kind of low-risk, high-reward move that makes sense for the Yankees. If Matzek can recapture his 2021-22 form, he’d add valuable left-handed depth to a bullpen that’s already looking formidible with Williams in the mix.
After falling to the Dodgers in last year’s World Series, the Yankees aren’t sitting still. They’ve addressed their roster needs aggressively, and Matzek could be another piece of the puzzle if he earns his way onto the big-league roster this spring.
