Tampa Bay Rays Reportedly Finalizing Deal With Free Agent Reliever Phil Maton

Maton made his MLB debut with the San Diego Padres in 2017, finishing his rookie year 3-2 with a 4.19 ERA, 1.279 WHIP, 9.6 strikeouts per nine innings and a 0.0 WAR in 46 appearances. Maton took the mound another 46 times in 2018 at a similar production level, but he opened 2019 with a 7.77 ERA through his first 21 outings.

The Padres then dealt Maton to the Cleveland Guardians in exchange for international bonus slot money ahead of the 2019 deadline. In nine appearances with the Guardians that year, Maton posted a 2.92 ERA and 0.811 WHIP.

Maton's ERA returns to the 4.00s in 2020, and remained stable in 2021 – even after he and catcher Yannier Diaz were traded to the Astros for outfielder Myles Straw.

Across 67 appearances in 2022, Maton finally slashed his season ERA to 3.84. In 2023, he cut it all the way down to 3.00 while posting a career-high 1.1 WAR and career-low 1.121 WHIP in a career-high 68 appearances.

For his career, Maton is 16-12 with a 4.25 ERA, 1.326 WHIP, 10.3 strikeouts per nine innings and a 0.0 WAR.

Maton is tied for eighth among all pitchers in appearances over the last four seasons with 223. Everyone else above Maton, however, has spent significant time as a closer, while Maton has just one save in that span.

A reliable, veteran reliever became an area of need for the Rays after they traded former All-Star righty Andrew Kittredge to the St. Louis Cardinals for outfielder Richie Palacios in January. Maton fits the bill and then some, given the durability and reliability he has displayed with contending teams over the past few years.

Maton has appeared in 20 playoff games in his career, putting up a 0.83 ERA, 0.738 WHIP and a 4.4 strikeout-to-walk ratio in those contests. In the 2023 postseason, Maton allowed one hit, one walk and zero runs in 6.0 innings across six games.