ORLANDO — After just two-plus months in a Red Sox uniform, veteran lefty Steven Matz is on the move again.
Matz, who finished the season in Boston after being acquired from St. Louis in a deadline trade, has found a new home on the free agent market, reportedly agreeing to a two-year deal with the Rays. The agreement was first reported by Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times.
Matz, who turns 35 in May, was one of two rental pitchers the Red Sox acquired at the July 31 deadline and was obtained from the Cardinals for infielder Blaze Jordan. In 21 regular season appearances with the Sox, Matz posted a 2.08 ERA and struck out 12 batters, though his 4.84 FIP suggested he benefited from some good luck. He pitched two scoreless innings in the Wild Card Series in New York.
Matz was brought in to add a veteran arm to Alex Cora’s late-inning mix after pitching well (3.44 ERA in 55 innings) for the Cardinals over the first four months of the season. The former Met earned a multi-year deal with a strong 2025 season, which was the final year of a four-year, $44 million contract he signed with the Cardinals back in 2021.
Matz was a fit to return to the Red Sox, who are lacking late-inning left-handed options other than closer Aroldis Chapman. Fellow veteran Justin Wilson remains a free agent and the Red Sox traded both Brennan Bernardino and Chris Murphy in November. Outside of Chapman, southpaws Jovani Morán and Tyler Samaniego (acquired in last week’s trade with Pittsburgh) represent the top left-handed relief options on the roster. Wilson, Hoby Milner, Gregory Soto, Sean Newcomb, Drew Pomeranz and Caleb Thielbar represent some of the top remaining options on the free agent market.
Matz is the first Red Sox free agent to find a new team this winter. Alex Bregman, Lucas Giolito, Liam Hendriks, Nathaniel Lowe, Dustin May, Rob Refsnyder and Josh Winckowski all remain unsigned.
