Phil

Maton

Maton will get a $250,000 buyout and become a free agent. Maton has been a solid reliever for years, making at least 65 appearances in each of the last four seasons. The Mets acquired Maton from the Rays at the trade deadline and, altogether, the 32-year-old pitched to a 3.66 ERA and 1.10 WHP in 64 innings, including a 2.36 ERA in 28 appearances during the second half. While the team option wasn’t an egregious overpay, the Mets likely believe they’ll be able to find a similarly talented reliever on the market for the same cost or less if they let free agency play out.

Edwin Díaz had worked four of the last five days, so he got this one off. Maton has also been busy; this was his fifth appearance in seven days. It’s his first save since he was acquired from the Rays in July and third this season overall.

New York is taking on the remainder of Maton’s $6.25 million salary for this season, and will hold a $7.75 million club option for next year, as they attempt to bolster their relief corps, which has been one of the worst in baseball over the last few weeks. The 31-year-old veteran reliever has made 348 appearances in the big leagues dating back to 2017 and holds a pedestrian 4.58 ERA, 1.33 WHIP and 30/18 K/BB ratio across 35 1/3 innings (40 appearances) this season in his Tampa Bay debut.

The Rays scratched out a run on a Royce Lewis miscue in the top half of the 10th inning, then Maton came on and made sure that it would stand up. He got Royce Lewis on a ground ball to third base, punched out Max Kepler and got Carlos Correa to fly out to left to end it — needing only five pitches (all strikes) to get the job done. Jason Adam worked the ninth inning with Pete Fairbanks (thumb) sidelined and picked up the victory in the game. For Maton, it’s his second save of the season.

Maton got the call on Saturday to protect a narrow two-run advantage after Jason Adam tossed a scoreless eighth inning in a tie ballgame. He issued a one-out walk to Harrison Bader, but managed to retire Brett Baty and pinch-hitter DJ Stewart to preserve the victory. It’ll be Adam picking up the majority of the save chances for Tampa Bay with Pete Fairbanks sidelined, but it wouldn’t be shocking to see Maton continue to vulture the occasional opportunity.

Maton got the chance for the save in the 11th inning after the Rays took a 7-6 lead. He got the first batter out, but Andrew Benintendi took the 31-year-old deep right after to give the White Sox the win and Maton the blown save. Maton has had a rough start to 2024 with a 7.59 ERA over 14 appearances and 10 2/3 innings.

The deal, which was agreed to in early February, was made official on Wednesday morning. He’ll earn $6.25 million for the 2024 season and the Rays will hold a $7.75 million club option ($250k buyout) for the 2025 campaign. The 30-year-old hurler was a key cog in the Astros’ bullpen in 2023, posting a 3.00 ERA, 1.12 WHIP and a 74/25 K/BB ratio over 66 frames. He’ll bulk up the Rays’ middle relief corps.

Murray notes that the deal also includes a club option for 2025 that could run the total of the contract to $14 million. Mark Feinsand of MLB.com had reported on Saturday that the two sides were close to an agreement, and it looks like they pushed it across the finish line. The 30-year-old right-hander will add another weapon to the Rays’ bullpen in front of closer Pete Fairbanks.

The reliever market continues to be red-hot with spring training right around the corner as the Rays appear to be close to crossing the finish line with Maton, who has been a key component of Houston’s relief mix over the last three seasons. The 30-year-old righty finished last year with a career-best 3.00 ERA, 1.12 WHIP and 74/25 K/BB ratio across 66 innings (68 appearances). He’ll likely pitch in middle relief for Tampa Bay as a bridge to late-inning stalwarts Pete Fairbanks and Jason Adam.

The 30-year-old Maton had velocity issues last year — his average fastball was down two mph from 2022 — but he posted a career-best 3.00 ERA for the Astros anyway. It’s possible he could land a two-year deal in the $15 million-$20 million range.