3 former NY Mets players who had a great spring after a terrible 2024 season

2) Steven Matz

Steven Matz pitched for the Mets from 2015-2020. He was 4-0 in his rookie season of 2015; a season that saw him pitch five shut out innings in the World Series against the Royals. He seemed to fit in nicely to a rotation of young guns that included names like Harvey, deGrom, Syndergaard, and Wheeler. However, although showing flashes of brilliance at times, success seemed to always be just out of reach. His record in New York was only a combined 31-41.

Matz was traded to the Blue Jays in 2021 and found success, going 14-7. Granted free agency, he signed a four-year, $46 million contract with the Cardinals in 2022. St. Louis also wasn’t a very friendly home to Matz. In his first three years there he pitched to a total record of 10-12. Nagging injuries and rehab trips to the minors prevented him from ever gaining any momentum.

Steven Matz came into spring training this season as a 34-year-old in the last year of his contract. It would not be any stretch of the imagination to classify him and a veteran whose best days were behind him. But spring training is the time for hopes and dreams. With his spot in the rotation on the line, Matz has appeared in 5 spring games with a record of 2-0 and an ERA of 2.29. The Cardinals are even talking about switching to a six-man rotation to take better advantage of aging arms like Matz. We will wait and see how this works out, but as the team heads home, Matz has made a solid spot for himself in the Cardinals' plans.