John Mozeliak may have just made a savvy move to bolster the St. Louis Cardinals’ bullpen, bringing in a proven postseason performer to deepen the team’s relief options.
Despite improvements in the bullpen since their shaky start, it’s been clear that the Cardinals needed more reliable arms to maintain consistency throughout the season. On Tuesday, they made a notable addition to their depth chart.
The Cardinals have signed a former World Series standout. He was recently designated for assignment by the New York Yankees, will report to Triple-A Memphis. In limited action with New York this season, he appeared in seven games, recording a 4.26 ERA across 6.1 innings with seven strikeouts. The Yankees opted to move on, but the Cardinals see potential value.
Originally signed by New York on a minor league contract this past offseason, Tyler Matzek brings an impressive résumé. From 2020 to 2022 with the Atlanta Braves, he posted a 2.92 ERA in 132 appearances, averaging over 10 strikeouts per nine innings. He played a key role in Atlanta’s 2021 World Series title run, boasting a career 1.48 ERA over 20 playoff games.
Matzek underwent Tommy John surgery in late 2022, missing the entire 2023 season and only managing 10 MLB innings in 2024, so it’s understandable he’s still rounding back into form. The Cardinals, however, are taking a low-risk chance by bringing him into the fold on a minor league deal.
As a lefty, Matzek gives the Cardinals much-needed bullpen depth from that side. JoJo Romero has been inconsistent, John King has struggled, and Steven Matz — though reliable — is used in various roles outside of late-inning leverage. St. Louis needs more dependable left-handed options, and Matzek could potentially fill that void.
Though not a guaranteed fix, this is a smart, low-risk move with upside. Matzek’s fastball averaged 94.5 mph in New York this year — a positive sign — as it matches his pre-surgery velocity. At his best, Matzek relies heavily on his four-seam fastball, pairing it with a sharp slider and an occasional sinker. If his fastball regains its effectiveness, he could be a valuable asset in St. Louis.
For now, he’ll try to prove himself in Memphis, but with the Cardinals entering a grueling stretch of 28 games in 29 days, Matzek could be called up soon. Should he perform well, he has a real shot at taking over John King’s role in the bullpen. We’ll be keeping a close eye on his progress.