By Gordon “Goody” Tate

June 29, 2024

CLEVELAND, OH – The Cleveland Guardians today announced the following addition to their 2024 Major League 40-man roster:

Signed free agent LHP Matthew Boyd (#16) to a one-year Major League Contract. Placed Boyd on the 15-day Injured List (rehab, left elbow surgery).

Designated RHP Zak Kent for assignment.

Boyd, 33, owns a 44-67 record with a 4.94 ERA (477ER/868.2IP) and 845 strikeouts in 174 career games/160 starts across 9 MLB seasons with Toronto (2015), Detroit (2015-21, 2023) and Seattle (2022). The left-hander went 5-5 with a 5.45 ERA (43ER/71.0IP) in 15 starts last season before partially spraining his left ulnar collateral ligament on June 26, 2023, requiring reconstructive elbow surgery. He was placed on the Tigers 60-day Injured List for the remainder of the season and elected free agency on November 2, 2023.

The southpaw was originally selected by Toronto in the sixth round (175th overall) of the 2013 MLB Draft out of Oregon State. The Mercer Island, Washington native ranks 2nd among American League left-handers in SO/9.0IP (9.48) since the start of 2018 (min. 500.0 IP) and was Detroit’s Opening Day starter in 2020 and 2021. Boyd is also a distant relative of Bob Feller, Cleveland’s all-time wins (266) and strikeouts (2,581) leader.

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