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Report: Red Sox, Cardinals among 4 teams eyeing Matz

Jamie Squire / Getty Images Sport / Getty

Left-hander Steven Matz is emerging as a popular name early in free agency.

Matz has received early interest from the Boston Red Sox, Los Angeles Angels, Los Angeles Dodgers, and St. Louis Cardinals, reports Newday's Tim Healey.

The 30-year-old attended the GM meetings in California to speak with interested clubs, Healey added.

Matz hit free agency after turning in a solid bounce-back campaign with the Toronto Blue Jays, posting a 3.82 ERA and 3.79 FIP with 144 strikeouts across 29 starts. It was his best individual season since his rookie year in 2016.

The Angels have consistently struggled on the mound in recent years and are pushing hard for arms in an attempt to end their postseason drought. Halos starters posted the ninth-highest ERA in the majors last season.

In Boston, Matz could be a potential replacement for Eduardo Rodriguez if the Venezuelan departs this winter. For the Cardinals and Dodgers, he could slot into the back end of their respective rotations to complement some already deep staffs.

Toronto elected not to tender him a one-year, $18.4-million qualifying offer, meaning he's not attached to draft-pick compensation. The Blue Jays are interested in re-signing Matz, having reportedly offered him a multi-year deal earlier in the offseason.

Matz owns a lifetime 4.24 ERA and 1.32 WHIP while averaging 8.6 strikeouts per nine innings across seven big-league seasons with the Blue Jays and New York Mets.

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