Manager Aaron Boone said Friday that Matzek (oblique) is close to beginning a minor-league rehab assignment and could join the big-league bullpen by the end of April, Bryan Hoch of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Matzek inked a minor-league deal with the Yankees in February but suffered a strained oblique during Grapefruit League play Feb. 25. The 34-year-old left-handed reliever missed all of 2023 recovering from Tommy John surgery and pitched just 10 innings in the big leagues with Atlanta last season, turning in a 9.90 ERA and 10:3 K:BB across 11 regular-season appearances.