Malik Waqar
The New York Yankees have agreed to a minor league deal with free-agent reliever Tyler Matzek.
The veteran left-hander, represented by PSI Sports Management, is expected to receive a non-roster invitation to MLB Spring Training as he looks to make a comeback after an injury-plagued 2024 season.
Matzek held a showcase for teams last month, and the Yankees were impressed enough to offer him a chance in camp. The 34-year-old pitched in just 11 major league games last season, all before May 4, after dealing with elbow inflammation.
He began 2024 in the Atlanta Braves’ bullpen but struggled, allowing 11 runs over 10 innings. The Braves placed him on the injured list in early May, and he remained sidelined for over three months. At the trade deadline, he was dealt to the San Francisco Giants as part of the Jorge Soler acquisition.
However, the Giants released him before he could pitch in their major league bullpen, leading to a return to Atlanta on a minor league contract. Matzek made four appearances for Triple-A Gwinnett but was not called up before electing free agency.
Elbow issues have hindered Matzek’s career in recent years. He underwent Tommy John surgery during Atlanta’s 2022 postseason run, forcing him to miss the entire 2023 season.
Prior to the injury, he had been a key piece of the Braves’ bullpen from 2020 to 2022, posting a 2.92 ERA with a 27% strikeout rate across 135 2/3 innings. His fastball velocity sat between 94-96 MPH during that stretch but dipped slightly to 93.6 MPH upon his return in 2024.
With the Yankees, Matzek has a strong chance to make the Opening Day roster if he performs well in Spring Training. New York currently has only one left-handed reliever on its 40-man roster, Tim Hill, who recently re-signed with the team.
The Yankees also invited two other left-handed pitchers to camp: Brandon Leibrandt, who has seven MLB appearances, and Jayvien Sandridge, who has yet to reach the majors.
If Matzek can regain his form, he could provide much-needed bullpen depth for the Yankees heading into the 2025 season.
