BREAKING: New York Yankees Sign anther Reliver to Lucrative deal in free agency
Atlanta Braves reliever is reportedly signing a minor league deal with the New York Yankees, according to Red Sox beat writer Chris Cotillo.
Matzek, a key figure in the Braves’ 2021 World Series run, was traded to the San Francisco Giants last season in the deal that brought outfielder Jorge Soler and reliever Luke Jackson back to Atlanta. After being released by the Giants, he rejoined the Braves but did not return to the majors.
The veteran left-hander made his MLB debut with Atlanta in 2020 and played a crucial role in their bullpen through 2021. However, he struggled in 2022, partially due to elbow issues that led to UCL surgery and forced him to miss the 2023 season. He returned to Atlanta’s bullpen in 2024 but faced further struggles before landing on the injured list with elbow soreness, eventually leading to his trade to San Francisco.
Over four seasons with the Braves, Matzek appeared in 143 games, averaging over 10 strikeouts per nine innings. Originally a first-round draft pick by the Colorado Rockies, he made his MLB debut in 2014 against the Braves but didn’t return to the big leagues until 2020.
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Matzek’s Atlanta legacy is highlighted by his dominant performance against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 2021 NLCS. If he makes the Yankees’ roster, he will join fellow former Braves lefty Max Fried, who signed with New York earlier this offseason.