The Cardinals signed Matzek to a minor-league contract Thursday.

EDGE Analysis

The Cardinals previously inked Matzek to a minor-league deal back on June 3, but he was released this past weekend before he had made an appearance in the organization. Now that the Cardinals have brought him back on a new deal, Matzek has been assigned to Triple-A Memphis, where he will provide left-handed relief depth.

Matzek elected to become a free agent Monday.

EDGE Analysis

Matzek passed through waivers unclaimed after the Yankees removed him from their 40-man roster, but the reliever has declined an outright assignment and will look for a new contract. The left-hander has permitted three runs on 11 hits and five walks over 6.1 innings in the majors this season. Matzek might have to accept another minor-league contract.

The Yankees designated Matzek for assignment Friday.

EDGE Analysis

Matzek made seven relief appearances for the Yankees after recovering from an oblique strain and had a lot of traffic on the bases, yielding three runs on 11 hits and five walks over 6.1 frames. The left-hander hasn't been healthy and effective since 2021, but he shouldn't have trouble landing a minor-league contract.

The Yankees selected Matzek's contract from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Tuesday.

EDGE Analysis

Matzek signed a minor-league contract in February and probably would have made the Opening Day roster if not for an oblique injury suffered in March. He's healthy now and has joined the active roster after allowing two runs with a 7:2 K:BB over 5.2 innings in the minors. Matzek will give manager Aaron Boone another left-handed relief option.

Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre reinstated Matzek from its 7-day injured list Wednesday.

EDGE Analysis

Matzek made his debut for Scranton/Wilkes-Barre in Wednesday's 7-4 loss to Rochester, striking out three and allowing two hits over two scoreless innings. The left-hander opened the season on the IL after sustaining an oblique strain in early March, but he was cleared to join the Triple-A bullpen after making a one-inning rehab appearance for Single-A Tampa on Sunday. The 34-year-old will look to string together more quality appearances for Scranton/Wilkes-Barre as he aims to earn a call-up to the Yankees. His contract contains a May 1 opt out if he isn't promoted to the big leagues before then.

Yankees manager Aaron Boone said Wednesday that Matzek (oblique) will need "at least a few" more rehab appearances in the minors before being considered an option for the big-league bullpen, Gary Phillips of the New York Daily News reports.

EDGE Analysis

Matzek isn't a member of the Yankees' 40-man roster and currently resides on Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre's 7-day injured list after he suffered an oblique strain in spring training while attending big-league camp as a non-roster invitee. The veteran southpaw made his first rehab appearance with Single-A Tampa on Sunday, striking out two while allowing one earned run on two hits in one inning. He'll likely make additional appearances with Tampa before eventually reporting to Triple-A, but he may not stick around with Scranton/Wilkes-Barre throughout the season. His minor-league contract contains a clause that would allow him to opt out and become a free agent May 1 if the Yankees don't promote him to the big leagues by then.

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.

Manager Aaron Boone said Thursday that Matzek (oblique) is trending toward returning from the injured list in April, Gary Phillips of the New York Daily News reports.

EDGE Analysis

Boone said that Matzek "isn't far behind" fellow reliever Ian Hamilton (infection) in his recovery and noted that the latter is expected back in early April. However, Matzek doesn't own a spot on the Yankees' 40-man roster, so he'll almost certainly be sent down to Triple-A once he's healthy.

Matzek (oblique) has resumed his throwing program and is scheduled for a bullpen session Thursday, Gary Phillips of the New York Daily News reports.

EDGE Analysis

Matzek was diagnosed with an oblique strain in early March, and he could start the regular season on the injured list. He threw a bullpen Monday and will need to have more sessions without suffering a setback before facing live hitters. Matzek appeared in 11 regular-season games for Atlanta in 2024 and posted a 9.90 ERA and 1.90 WHIP across 10 innings.

Yankees manager Aaron Boone said Friday that Matzek (oblique) has a "pretty good strain" and will be sidelined a few weeks, Greg Joyce of the New York Post reports.

EDGE Analysis

Matzek hasn't appeared in a Grapefruit League game since Feb. 25 due to an oblique strain. The good news is Boone noted that Matzek is now asymptomatic and could resume a throwing program Monday. The lefty reliever had been in line to make the team as a non-roster invitee, but he now won't be ready for Opening Day.