In a significant move for the team, left-handed pitcher Steven Matz has officially signed a two-year contract worth $15 million with the Tampa Bay Rays, marking an exciting new chapter in his career.
Under this agreement, Matz will earn an annual salary of $7.5 million. Additionally, if he is traded during his contract, he stands to receive a one-time bonus of $500,000, which will be covered by the team that acquires him.
At 34 years old, Matz had a commendable season last year, boasting a record of 6 wins and 2 losses, along with a solid ERA of 3.05 and two saves across a career-high 53 appearances for both the St. Louis Cardinals and the Boston Red Sox. Throughout the season, he struck out 59 batters while issuing only 11 walks in 76 and two-thirds innings pitched.
During his time with St. Louis, Matz made 32 appearances, starting in two games, where he recorded a 5-2 record and a 3.44 ERA. After his trade to Boston, he remained effective in relief, contributing with a 0-0 record, one save, and an impressive 2.08 ERA over 21 outings.
One notable highlight from last season was Matz's remarkable control; he walked just 3.6% of the batters he faced, ranking him fourth lowest among pitchers who logged at least 50 innings.
In total, Matz has a career record of 60 wins and 62 losses, with an ERA of 4.19 across 246 games, including 172 starts. His professional journey includes stints with the New York Mets (from 2015 to 2020), the Toronto Blue Jays in 2021, the Cardinals from 2021 to 2025, and lastly, the Red Sox in 2025.
To accommodate Matz on their 40-man roster, the Rays designated outfielder Tristan Peters for assignment. Peters, 25, had a challenging season last year, going hitless in 12 at-bats over four games with the major league team. However, he demonstrated stronger performance in Triple-A, where he posted a batting average of .266, an on-base percentage of .355, alongside 15 home runs, 76 RBIs, and 11 steals over 136 games with the Durham Bulls.
This signing has generated buzz within the baseball community, raising questions about how Matz's addition will impact the Rays' pitching rotation moving forward. Stay tuned as we continue to follow the developments of Matz's career in Tampa Bay!
