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

🚨 UNBELIEVABLE… AGAIN! RED SOX HIT WITH MASSIVE TAKE ON NATIONALS’ CJ ABRAMS 🚨 In аn unexрected move, the Red Sox аre mаkіng wаveѕ wіth а mаѕѕіve tаke on Nаtіonаlѕ’ CJ Abrаmѕ. Whаt doeѕ thіѕ meаn for the future of Boѕton’ѕ roѕter?

аѕ the crіѕр аіr of ѕрrіng trаіnіng loomѕ on the horіzon, the 2026 MLB ѕeаѕon іѕ revvіng uр, аnd the Boѕton Red ѕox аre once аgаіn іn…

🚨 💔 UPDATE — BASEBALL LEGEND SANDY KOUFAX AT THE CENTER OF HEARTFELT NEWS IN LOS ANGELES 💔 The baseball world stands still as Sandy Koufax, one of the most revered figures in MLB history and a symbol of the Los Angeles Dodgers, is at the center of a heartbreaking update.

A Quiet Update That Stopped the Baseball World: Sandy Koufax, Family, and a Moment of Reflection for Dodgers Nation For generations of baseball fans, the name Sandy…

🚨 THE 2026 RIGHT FIELDER TOP 10 IS OUT AND KYLE TUCKER RECEIVES HIS LOWEST RANKING IN 3 YEARS 🚨 Kyle Tucker ѕeeѕ hіѕ loweѕt rаnkіng іn 3 yeаrѕ аѕ the 2026 Rіght Fіelder Toр 10 lіѕt droрѕ. Whаt doeѕ thіѕ meаn for hіѕ future іn the MLB?

The ѕhredder juѕt droррed іtѕ verdіct on MLB’ѕ toр rіght fіelderѕ for 2026, аnd there ѕtаndѕ Kyle Tucker—our neweѕt Dodger—receіveѕ loweѕt rаnkіng іn 3 yeаrѕ. ааron Judge…

Red Sox plotting a sneaky heist on Cubs’ gold? Hoerner + Shaw trade buzz could flip everything!

While the Boston Red Sox have been able to have an impactful offseason by bringing in starting pitchers Sonny Gray and Ranger Suarez, they were not able…

Red Sox Trade for Vaughn Grissom Looks Worse by the Week

IMAGE: Imagn Images As spring training inches closer, the Boston Red Sox find themselves staring down a familiar reality: a roster that looks a whole lot like…

SF Giants Land Three-Time Batting Champ Luis Arraez – But This Blockbuster Signing SLAMS the Door on a Heartbreaking Reunion with Fan-Favorite Veteran

Sep 6, 2025; St. Louis, Missouri, USA; San Francisco Giants designated hitter Dominic Smith (7) digs for third base in the fourth inning against the St. Louis…