Mata was re-signed to a minor league contract just hours after being non-tendered by Boston in November, and he didn’t do enough in the Grapefruit League to justify a roster spot. He could be up at some point this spring if he pitches well in Triple-A, but Boston will need to clear room on the 40-man roster.

Well that didn’t take long. Mata was non-tendered on Friday evening, but just a couple of hours later he was brought back on a minor league deal. The former top prospect has struggled to live up to his billing thus far, but if he’s able to stay healthy he certainly has the stuff to get his career back on track.

Mata, once considered one of the top pitching prospects in the Red Sox’ organization, has seen his stock drop precipitously in recent years as he has been ravaged by injuries. Mata was limited to just 22 2/3 innings in the minor leagues in 2024 due to shoulder issues, ultimately registering a 4.37 ERA, 1.41 WHIP and a 20/9 K/BB ratio. If he’s able to stay healthy, it wouldn’t be surprising to see him get his career back on track with another organization.

TINSTAAPP. The unquestioned top pitching prospect in Boston’s system for the last several years, Mata never quite broke through as injuries have derailed his career. The 25-year-old righty has yet to arrive in the big leagues and missed all of last year due to a right shoulder issue.