With the offseason now in full swing, the Boston Red Sox have been popular in the rumor mill. Over the last few weeks, Boston has been tied to free agents such as Carlos Correa and Kyle Schwarber. While the Red Sox will look to improve their offense, they are also looking for pitching help. One player who could be a potential fit is Steven Matz, who is coming off a bounce-back year.
Although Matz has struggled to stay healthy throughout his career, he made 29 starts during the 2021 campaign. The 31-year-old posted a 3.82 ERA while striking out 144 batters. In his first season with the Toronto Blue Jays, Matz proved to be stabilizing presence after a disastrous season in New York. With Eduardo Rodriguez now with the Detroit Tigers, the Red Sox have an open rotation spot for a pitcher like Matz.
While Matz allowed 18 home runs, he was able to limit the damage. The 31-year-old posted the third-lowest ERA of his career and only walked 43 batters. Although the Ward Melville High School product struggled in August, he did not allow more than two runs in his last three starts. With the Blue Jays fighting for a playoff spot, he gave them opportunities to win.
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Through Matz’s first seven seasons, he has been a league-average pitcher. The New York native has relied on sinker throughout his career, which has produced a 46 percent ground-ball rate. In front of a good defense, Matz can be an effective starter. This is, however, one of the areas the Red Sox struggled mightily in throughout 2021. He does have a 23 percent strikeout rate and finished his first season in the AL East with a 14-7 record.
How Matz fits into the Red Sox rotation
With Chris Sale and Nathan Eovaldi expected to lead the rotation, Matz could be a complementary piece. The Red Sox have reportedly shown interest in the lefthander as the pitching market continues to heat up. The addition of Matz would also not require the Red Sox to lose a draft pick as he was never extended a qualifying offer. As the CBA is set to expire when December rolls around, teams around the league have wasted little time making additions.
Although the Red Sox are expected to be busy, Matz has also drawn the interest of the Los Angeles Angels and Dodgers, as well as the St Louis Cardinals. While it is uncertain where the former second-round pick will end up, he has plenty of suitors. As the Red Sox look to improve their depth, Matz could be a solid option.
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