BREAKING: Should The Yankees Target Tyler Matzek to Fill Lefty Reliever Spot?

Apr 1, 2024; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Atlanta Braves relief pitcher Tyler Matzek (68) pitches against the Chicago White Sox during the ninth inning at Guaranteed Rate Field. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images
Should the Yankees take a chance on lefty reliever Tyler Matzek who is slated to throw a showcase in front of scouts on Thursday?

With the New York Yankees needing a left-handed reliever for their bullpen, a reunion with Tim Hill makes sense.

But if they don’t bring back Hill, could this veteran lefty be a potential replacement option for the Yankees?

MLB insider Jon Morosi of MLB Network reported on Wednesday that veteran reliever Tyler Matzek will throw a showcase for scouts on Thursday in Irvine, California with hopes that a team across the league will sign him after being limited to just 10 innings across the past two seasons.

Matzek, 34, was sidelined for all of the 2023 season and returned to make just 11 appearances in 2024, allowing 11 earned runs in the process (9.90 ERA).

After beginning the 2022 campaign with a 5.06 ERA, he was placed on the injured list on May 17 with shoulder inflammation and did not return until July 4. Despite making 42 appearances in 2022 going 4-2 with a 3.50 ERA across 43.2 innings, Matzek was left off the NLDS roster for the Braves after experiencing elbow discomfort. He would later need Tommy John Surgery which also kept him out of the entire 2023 season.

Matzek signed a minor league deal with the San Francisco Giants on July 29, 2024. But after posting a 5.79 ERA across three outings for the Giants’ Triple-A affiliate, the Sacramento River Cats, he was released by the organization on August 30.

The Braves brought back Matzek shortly thereafter, signing him to a minor league on August 31.

Despite his injury history over the last few seasons, Matzek’s career numbers are still impressive and when healthy, he can be a reliable bullpen arm and long reliever as well. He also has experience as a starting pitcher.

Matzek was one of the Braves’ best relievers in 2021, helping them capture their first World Series title since 1995.

In 168 career games (24 starts) pitching for both the Braves and Colorado Rockies, Matzek has gone 16-21 with a 3.72 ERA and has 272 strikeouts across 285.1 innings with a WHIP of 1.36.

With the Yankees bullpen currently having no lefty options for the 2025 season, Matzek could become a candidate if he impresses scouts during his showcase on Thursday.

Signing Matzek would be the type of low-risk, high-reward move New York could certainly make.

As sources told Pat Ragazzo of Yankees On SI, another former Yankee reliever, Lou Trivino, threw a bullpen session in Palm Beach, Fla. in front of scouts on Tuesday. The Yankees, Los Angeles Dodgers, Cleveland Guardians, Chicago Cubs, San Francisco Giants, Kansas City Royals and Cincinnati Reds were among those in attendance.

Trivino is an additional reunion candidate for the Yankees and scouts were said to have come away impressed with his bullpen session, which saw the righty hit 94 mph on his sinker. Like Matzek, Trivino, 33, has essentially missed the last two years of action due to Tommy John surgery in 2022.

Related Posts

🚨 REPORT: DEPTH TESTED IN LOS ANGELES The Los Angeles Dodgers moved swiftly to add a former All Star infielder after the crushing injury setback to Tommy Edman, signaling urgency behind the scenes as October ambitions hang in the balance and fans anxiously track every roster twist across the league..ll 👇👇👇

The Los Angeles Dodgers will open the 2026 MLB season carrying the weight of history and the opportunity to cement a modern dynasty. Only a handful of…

🚨 BOMBSHELL: HOLLYWOOD POWER MOVE UNLEASHED The Los Angeles Dodgers are linked to a proposed $100 million blockbuster that would bring in a two time All Star and DPOY caliber force to finalize a terrifying outfield alongside Teoscar Hernández and Kyle Tucker, sending shockwaves through the league as rivals brace for a star studded takeover in October..ll 👇👇👇

The Los Angeles Dodgers have once again dominated offseason headlines, reinforcing their reputation as baseball’s most aggressive and calculated powerhouse. After back to back championship campaigns, the…

🏆 BREAKING: IMMORTAL AT LAST IN COOPERSTOWN Ron Guidry, forever known as “Louisiana Lightning,” has officially entered the National Baseball Hall of Fame, closing a decades long debate and igniting raw emotion across the New York Yankees universe as a legend once labeled overlooked now stands permanently among the game’s eternal giants..ll 👇👇👇

For more than three decades, the Hall of Fame debate surrounding Ron Guidry simmered beneath the surface of baseball discourse, lingering as one of the most polarizing…

🚨 BREAKING: SILENCE SHATTERED IN THE BRONX Yankees icon Paul O’Neill finally opened up about his private fight, moving the entire New York Yankees family to tears as he revealed the quiet pain of watching triumphs from afar and wishing he had the strength to celebrate beside the next generation once more..ll 👇👇👇

Few venues in professional sports carry the emotional weight of Yankee Stadium, a cathedral of baseball where triumph and heartbreak have unfolded for generations beneath bright October…

🚨 BOMBSHELL: Cowboys beat writer says Dallas could cut ties with a current starter to save nearly $7 million — and the financial calculus may outweigh loyalty faster than fans expect. What once looked like a stable piece of the lineup is now being weighed against cap flexibility and long-term vision. If this projection becomes reality, the locker room ripple effect could be immediate.. 👇👇👇

Cowboys Could Part Ways With Malik Hooker as Cap Pressure Mounts and Defensive Identity Hangs in the Balance The Dallas Cowboys are entering another offseason defined not…

Logan Webb Sends Clear Message About Giants Playoff Hopes

IMAGE: San Francisco Giants starting pitcher Logan Webb (62) walks to the dugout against the Colorado Rockies in the first inning at Oracle Park. / Eakin Howard…