The veteran left-hander could join Max Fried on the Yankees pitching staff.
Former Atlanta Braves reliever Tyler Matzek is set to join the New York Yankees on a minor league deal, according to a report from Chris Cotillo, a Boston Red Sox beat writer.
It’ll be a minor league deal for Matzek, who impressed scouts in a recent showcase. Agreement in place. https://t.co/qS3J3Nezh8
— Chris Cotillo (@ChrisCotillo) February 11, 2025
Matzek, one of the heroes of the 2021 World Series Championship team was traded by Atlanta to the San Francisco Giants last season as part of the deal that brought outfielder Jorge Soler and reliever Luke Jackson back to the Braves. Matzek returned to the Braves after he was released by the Giants but didn’t return appear in the majors upon his return.
The veteran left-hander debuted for Atlanta in 2020 and was a key member of the Braves bullpen that season and in 2021. He took a step back in performance in 2022 in part due to a left elbow issues that saw him miss the 2023 season after undergoing UCL surgery. He returned to Atlanta’s bullpen in 2024, but struggled before hitting the IL again with elbow soreness prior to his a fore mentioned trade to the Giants.
In parts of four seasons with Atlanta, he appeared in 143 games, striking out more than 10 batters per nine innings. The former first round draft choice of the Colorado Rockies made his MLB debut against the Braves in 2014. His 2020 appearance with Atlanta marked his first action in the big leagues since 2015.
Matzek’s legacy in Atlanta is cemented in part due to his master performance against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 2021 NLCS. If he makes the Yankees roster, he will join fellow former Braves left-handed pitcher Max Fried who signed a free agent deal with the Yankees earlier this offseason.