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Red Sox reportedly trade for Cardinals lefty reliever Steven Matz
Steven Matz will join a Red Sox bullpen that already has several lefties in Aroldis Chapman, Justin Wilson, and others.
Craig Breslow and the Red Sox reportedly made a move to bolster the bullpen late Wednesday night.
According to ESPN’s Jeff Passan, the Red Sox acquired Cardinals lefty reliever Steven Matz in exchange for first baseman prospect Blaze Jordan.
Matz, 34, is in the final year of a four-year, $44 million contract he signed with the Cardinals in November 2021. Signed as a starter after a couple of productive seasons with both the Mets and Blue Jays, Matz has largely underwhelmed in that role with St. Louis.
But Matz has recouped some value this season as a long-relief option for St. Louis — going 5-2 so far this season with a 3.44 ERA. Over 55.0 innings of work (32 appearances, two starts), Matz has struck out 48 batters and walked nine.
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With fellow Red Sox southpaw Justin Wilson struggling as of late (4.50 ERA in his last nine appearances), Matz should add some additional value to Boston’s relief corps — especially when matched up against left-handed batters.
As noted by The Ringer’s Brian Barrett, lefties are hitting just .179 off of Matz this season, while righties are batting .313. Matz now joins a Red Sox bullpen that also includes several others lefties including Wilson, Aroldis Chapman, Chris Murphy, and Brennan Bernardino.
Jordan, 22, has put together his most productive season so far between Double-A Portland and Triple-A Worcester — batting .308 with 12 home runs and 62 RBI.
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Despite Jordan’s strong results at the plate, he has been unable to crack Boston’s big-league roster — even with Triston Casas suffering a season-ending injury in May.
Barring Boston adding another infield bat before Thursday’s 6 p.m. deadline, the Red Sox will move forward in 2025 with a platoon of Romy Gonzalez and Abraham Toro.
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