The Boston Red Sox, mired in a close American League Wild Card fight, added a significant piece to their pitching staff, finalizing a trade with the St. Louis Cardinals for veteran lefty Steven Matz. The Red Sox dealt prospect Blaze Jordan to the Cardinals Wednesday night for veteran lefty Steven Matz. The move shows Boston’s playoff push, while St. Louis focuses on rebuilding by adding young talent to its roster.
The Short-Term Impact: Matz Boston Role
Steven Matz, 34, arrives at the Red Sox on the heels of a 2025 season in which he shone playing a hybrid role for the Cardinals. He has a 3.44 ERA and a 5-2 record in 32 outings, 30 of them being from the bullpen. Matz has 172 starts, including two this year with a 1.00 ERA, but Boston plans to mainly use him in relief. This move adds needed pitching depth, as injuries keep affecting Boston’s rotation and putting extra pressure on their bullpen.
Matz’s versatility benefits manager Alex Cora the most. He can give multiple innings in relief, work as a left-handed specialist, and even fill in for spot starts when needed. His 1.18 WHIP this year is the best of his career, and his sparkling 4.0% walk rate and 5.3% barrel rate show that he has the skill to shut down errors and generate ground balls, essential traits for any pitcher, especially in high-leverage relief roles. With big-market experience on the Mets and Blue Jays and past playoff time, Matz adds value to Boston’s postseason push.
The transaction also provides the Red Sox with a fifth left-handed reliever on their bench, in addition to Aroldis Chapman, Justin Wilson, Brennan Bernardino, and Chris Murphy. The Red Sox’s pitching depth is valuable, though it may force a move, possibly optioning Brennan Bernardino to clear space for Matz.
The Return: Blaze Jordan Heads to St. Louis
For Matz, the St. Louis Cardinals get Blaze Jordan, a 22-year-old first base prospect who was ranked Boston’s No. 17 prospect by MLB Pipeline. Jordan, a third-round draft pick of the Red Sox in the 2020 Draft, is hitting well in the minors this season at .308/.377/.495 at Double-A and Triple-A, with 12 home runs and 62 RBIs in 88 games.
This deal is in complete alignment with the Cardinals’ rebuilding and acquiring young players plan. The comfort level that Chaim Bloom, incoming President of Baseball Operations for the Cardinals in 2025, has with Jordan from his draft experience certainly contributed to this deal. The power potential and hitting ability of Jordan make him an exciting prospect for the Cardinals’ minor league system, with chances of him making it to the big leagues sooner than later.
Red Sox Pitching Issues and Trade Deadline Strategy
The Red Sox signing of Matz is a sign of their desperate need for pitching depth. Their rotation has been badly damaged by injury, with key starters like Tanner Houck (flexor strain), Kutter Crawford (wrist injury), and rookie Hunter Dobbins (torn ACL) all unavailable. While Garrett Crochet has proven to be a good ace, the rotation has otherwise been haphazard, making the bullpen have to take on a huge burden.
Chief baseball officer Craig Breslow has emphasized that acquiring pitching, especially starting pitching, was an uppermost priority going into the trade deadline. Although Matz is likely to be used mainly in the bullpen, his potential to cover length and occasionally start gives the team much-needed flexibility. This is probably only the beginning for the Red Sox as they continue to search for ways to get more meaningful starting assistance before Thursday’s 6 p.m. ET deadline. Boston finds itself one game behind the Yankees for the American League Wild Card lead, so each decision matters in their quest to reach the playoffs.
Cardinals’ Rebuild Continues
For the Cardinals, the Matz trade comes on the heels of their previous deal to send two-time All-Star closer Ryan Helsley to the New York Mets. These moves indicate a definitive turn towards more assertive retooling of their roster. By divesting themselves of veteran contracts and adding up-and-coming talent such as Blaze Jordan, the Cardinals are building for competitiveness to come. Matz signed a four-year, $44 million deal before the 2022 season, which will expire at the end of this year, making him a straightforward rental for the Red Sox. That the Cardinals could acquire a prospect as good as Jordan on an expiring contract shows that their front office made a savvy decision in trying to rebuild their farm system.
Conclusion: A Strategic Move for Both Sides
The Steven Matz trade is a tactical decision for the St. Louis Cardinals and Boston Red Sox. For Boston, it’s a “win-now” decision, getting a productive, versatile left-hander to strengthen their bullpen and provide useful pitching depth in their bid for a playoff spot. For St. Louis, it’s a futuristic move, shedding an expiring contract and acquiring promising young offense prospect Blaze Jordan, showing the team’s commitment to an overhaul on the back end. With the MLB trade deadline rapidly approaching, this move sets the stage for a frenzy of activity across the league as teams actively prepare for either a short- or long-term push toward contention.
