Red Sox Acquire Steven Matz from Cardinals for Top-20 Prospect in Trade Deadline Deal originally appeared on Athlon Sports.

The Boston Red Sox are finally on the board at the 2025 MLB trade deadline. Although it is not yet a first baseman or a top-tier starting pitcher, it is a versatile upgrade to the pitching staff.

According to ESPN’s Jeff Passan, the Red Sox are acquiring left-hander Steven Matz from the St. Louis Cardinals in exchange for top-20 prospect first baseman Blaze Jordan.

Matz has primarily served as a reliever this season with the Cardinals, totaling a 3.44 ERA and 47 strikeouts across 55 innings. Not only can Matz serve to deepen the Red Sox bullpen, but the veteran has experience working as a starter.

Including two games this season, Matz has over 170 career starts. The 34-year-old also has World Series experience as a part of the 2015 New York Mets. While Matz will not dominate with swing-and-miss stuff, he does have the third-lowest walk rate among left-handed pitchers and the tenth-lowest home runs per nine, according to FanGraphs. Matz also excels at escaping jams with an impressive 67.9 left on base percentage – one of the best among lefty relievers.

While acquiring Matz should help the Red Sox’s bullpen in a tight AL East race, the trade means the end of Blaze Jordan’s tenure with the organization.

Drafted in the third round (89th overall) in the 2020 MLB, Jordan boasted legendary power, notching a pair of 500-foot home runs at the age of 11. However, that power never translated over to the minor leagues. The 22-year-old has failed to hit over 20 home runs in a season thus far, but should flourish with the fresh start in St. Louis. No longer blocked by Triston Casas, Rafael Devers, and Alex Bregman, Jordan is set to become a future building block of the Cardinals’ organization.

This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 31, 2025, where it first appeared.

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