Steven Matz
Steven Matz had a pretty decent year with the Toronto Blue Jays in 2021. Could this translate into a better contract for the 30-year-old lefty? He could be another option the Cardinals could consider for an opener or middle innings pitcher.
In 29 games started in 2021, Matz was 14-7 with 150.2 innings thrown. He gave up 43 walks while striking out 144.
Matz uses a mix of a sinker, changeup, curveball and slider. He used his sinker a majority of the time. The sinker averaged 94.5 mph with 18.4 inches of vertical drop and an active spin of 99%. His changeup averaged 85.1 mph with 34.6 inches of vertical drop and an active spin of 86%. His curveball averaged 77.6 mph with 54.8 inches of vertical drop and an active spin of 82%. His slider averaged 88.9 mph with 28.9 inches of vertical drop and an active spin of 40%. His swinging strike percentage was 27.8%.
Matz has an interesting pitch arsenal that would be quite the addition to the Cardinals pitching staff. He has spent seven seasons in the majors, a majority of that time with the New York Mets. After his time in New York and Buffalo/Toronto, St. Louis would certainly be a change of pace that may be beneficial to him.