Will The Rays Give Steven Matz a Chance to be a Starting Pitcher Again?

On Monday, pitcher Steven Matz signed a two-year deal with the Tampa Bay Rays worth $15 million.

Matz, 34, split the 2025 season between the St. Louis Cardinals and the Boston Red Sox. Indeed, I saw Matz pitch at Fenway out of the bullpen back in August against the Miami Marlins, but he gave up a 2-run HR to Jakob Marsee in a 5-3 loss.

The veteran southpaw was originally drafted out of high school by the New York Mets in the 2nd round of the 2009 MLB Draft. Matz would make his MLB debut with the Mets in 2015 when they won the NL pennant and would pitch in the World Series starting Game 4 against the Kansas City Royals.

Although Matz finished 6th in NL Rookie of the Year balloting in 2016, he did not live up to expectations in Queens. Frequent trips to the disabled list didn't help matters. After an appalling 0-5 record with a 9.68 ERA during the COVID shortened 2020 season, the Mets dealt Matz to the Toronto Blue Jays where he would enjoy his best MLB season in 2021 when he finished with a record of 14-7 with a 3.82 ERA in 29 starts striking out 144 batters in 150.2 innings pitched.

Prior to the 2022 season, Matz signed a 4-year, $44 million contract with the St. Louis Cardinals. Matz's inaugural season in St. Louis would come to an abrupt end with a torn MCL mid-season. In 2023, it was his lat, and in 2024, it was his back. By 2025, Matz was primarily working out of the bullpen, and he would continue to do so after the Cardinals sent him packing to Boston. In a career high 53 appearances (51 in relief) between both clubs, Matz went 5-2 with 3.05 ERA pitching 76.2 innings fanning 59 against only 11 walks.

Now that Matz has joined the Rays, the question is will he get another chance to be a starting pitcher again. I'm inclined to think that he will get to compete for a spot in the Rays rotation. But it could be the case that keeping Matz in the bullpen reduces his risk for injury. 

While I think that Matz would prefer to start, I think he is at the stage of his career that he will go with the flow and could embrace the bullpen if it helps extend his career.