The Tampa Bay Rays just added a familiar left-handed arm to their pitching mix, agreeing to a two-year deal with veteran Steven Matz. The 34-year-old finished the 2025 season with the Boston Red Sox and now arrives in St. Petersburg as a versatile piece.
Matz can work in both the rotation and the bullpen. He gives Tampa Bay another matchup weapon and brings a seasoned presence for the next couple of years.
Rays Land a Proven Left-Hander in Steven Matz
The agreement between Matz and the Rays, first reported by the Tampa Bay Times, is pending a physical. It signals Tampa Bay’s commitment to building a deep, flexible pitching staff.
This club thrives on matchup advantages, workload management, and creative deployment. Adding a veteran southpaw with starting and relief experience fits the Rays’ blueprint.
The Rays rarely make flashy pitching signings, but they’re great at finding arms who can fill multiple roles. Matz’s recent performance and career track record suggest he’s more than just another bullpen name.
How Matz Performed in 2025
Matz split the 2025 season between the St. Louis Cardinals and the Boston Red Sox. He transitioned almost fully into a relief role.
He made 53 appearances, including just two starts for St. Louis, and delivered a strong body of work.
In 2025, Matz produced:
Tampa Bay moved quickly for a reason. The Rays value pitchers who can neutralize specific pockets of opposing lineups, and Matz’s ability to suppress left-handed bats gives manager Kevin Cash another trusted option in high-leverage situations.
From Mets Prospect to Versatile Veteran
To get what the Rays see in him, it helps to trace Matz’s evolution from highly regarded Mets prospect to adaptable veteran. Over the last decade, he’s experienced the highs and lows of life as a big league starter and reinvented himself to stay in the game.
That journey took him through multiple organizations and roles. Each stop added layers to the pitcher Tampa Bay is betting on for the next two seasons.
Matz’s Early Years as a Starter
Matz broke into the majors with the New York Mets, spending six seasons in Queens primarily as a starter. Early on, he showed the classic profile of a mid-rotation lefty: a lively fastball, a solid changeup, and the ability to attack hitters on both sides of the plate.
Durability and consistency were sometimes issues, but his ceiling was evident whenever he commanded the zone. After his Mets tenure, Matz moved to the Toronto Blue Jays and found a new level, delivering what remains his best season in the big leagues.
The Breakout Year in Toronto
In 2021 with the Blue Jays, Matz put together a standout campaign that re-established his value on the market. He won 14 games, the second-most victories in the American League that season, and gave Toronto stability in a rotation that needed it.
That performance led him to free agency, where the St. Louis Cardinals brought him in ahead of the 2022 season. They saw him as a fixture in their starting staff.
Transition to St. Louis, Boston, and Now Tampa Bay
Matz’s time with the Cardinals marked the start of his evolution from full-time starter to hybrid arm. Injuries and performance fluctuations nudged him toward the bullpen, where his stuff played up in shorter stints and his value against left-handed hitters became more pronounced.
The trade-deadline move to Boston in 2025 only accelerated that transition. The Red Sox leaned on him for key relief innings down the stretch.
Why Matz Fits the Rays’ Pitching Blueprint
The Rays’ pitching philosophy is built on flexibility: openers, bulk relievers, piggyback starts, and matchup-driven bullpen usage. Matz fits that model almost perfectly. He can:
His 3.05 ERA and dominance of left-handed hitters in 2025 suggest he can handle all three roles. For a team that constantly reshuffles roles based on opponent and schedule, this adaptability has real value.
What the Matz Signing Means for the Rays’ Staff
The Matz deal is really about depth, reliability, and tactical advantage. Tampa Bay rarely leans on just one ace to carry the load.
Instead, they stack layers of competent arms. Then they deploy those pitchers creatively over 162 games.
By adding Steven Matz, the Rays gain:
Matz gets a shot to extend his career in a pitching-friendly environment. The Rays, meanwhile, make another calculated, low-drama, high-upside addition—one that could pay off in October just as much as it does in April.
Here is the source article for this story: Sources: Veteran LHP Matz, Rays agree to deal
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