The Rangers signed Festa to a minor-league contract Wednesday that includes an invitation to spring training, Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News reports.
Festa was traded from the Rangers to the Cubs in January before electing free agency following his removal from Chicago's 40-man roster. Now he's back in Texas, where he posted a 4.37 ERA and 23:7 K:BB over 22.2 innings covering 18 appearances last season.
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Cubs' Matt Festa: Sent outright to Triple-A
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Festa was outrighted to Triple-A Iowa on Monday, per MLB's transactions log.
Festa was booted from the 40-man roster Tuesday to clear a spot for Ryan Pressly. The 31-year-old will report to Triple-A after failing to draw interest while on waivers.
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Cubs' Matt Festa: Designated for assignment
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The Cubs designated Festa for assignment Tuesday, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports.
The move frees up a spot on the 40-man roster for the addition of Ryan Pressly. It's the second time this month that Festa has been designated for assignment, as he was acquired from the Rangers in early January after being booted from their 40-man roster. He posted a 5.70 ERA and 1.23 WHIP across 23.2 innings between the Mets and Rangers in 2024.
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Cubs' Matt Festa: Shipped to Wrigleyville
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The Rangers traded Festa to the Cubs on Thursday in exchange for cash considerations.
The 31-year-old righty was pushed off the Rangers' 40-man roster Monday to make room for new acquisition Chris Martin but will reclaim a 40-man spot upon moving to Chicago. Festa finished 2024 with a 5.70 ERA and 1.23 WHIP across 23.2 total innings between the Mets and Rangers, and he'll now attempt to make the Cubs' bullpen as a low-leverage arm during spring training. Miles Mastrobuoni was DFA'd in a corresponding move.
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Rangers' Matt Festa: Joins big-league bullpen
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The Rangers selected Festa's contract from Triple-A Round Rock on Sunday.
He'll join the big-league bullpen as a replacement for right-hander Josh Sborz, who was placed on the 15-day injured list due to right shoulder fatigue. After signing a minor-league contract with the Rangers in July, Festa made six appearances for Round Rock and gave up one earned run on six hits and three walks while striking out 13 batters over 8.2 innings.
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Rangers' Matt Festa: Gets MiLB contract from Texas
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The Rangers signed Festa to a minor-league contract on Monday.
Festa elected free agency earlier this month after the Mets cast him off their 40-man roster. He didn't take long to find a new home, though he'll presumably head to Triple-A Round Rock with his new organization. Festa holds a 4.66 ERA and 103:45 K:BB over 94.2 innings covering parts of five major-league seasons.
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Matt Festa: Becoming free agent
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Festa elected free agency Friday, Will Sammon of The Athletic reports.
Festa was designated for assignment by the Mets on Wednesday and will try his luck on the open market. The 31-year-old pitched only one inning with New York and allowed four runs. However, he has a solid track record in the majors and should garner some interest in free agency.
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Mets' Matt Festa: Rough season debut
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Festa (0-1) took the loss Sunday against the Astros, coughing up five runs (four earned) on four hits and a walk in the 11th inning. He struck out one.
The former Mariner was called up earlier in the day to give the Mets' beleaguered bullpen a fresh arm, and Festa was immediately pressed into service when the game went into extras. After intentionally walking Yordan Alvarez, he gave up three straight singles before Trey Cabbage ripped a two-out, two-run double to seal the win for Houston. With no day off Monday for New York, Festa is likely to be jettisoned from the 26-man roster in short order to make room for more relief reinforcements.
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Mets' Matt Festa: Joins big club
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The Mets selected Festa's contract from Triple-A Syracuse on Sunday.
Festa joined the Mets on a minor-league contract in May after being released from his minors deal with the Padres. The right-hander will receive a look in the big leagues after he posted a 1.76 ERA in 11 outings with Syracuse.
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Mets' Matt Festa: Gets minors deal from Mets
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The Mets signed Festa to a minor-league contract Sunday.
Festa was released by the Padres last week after posting a 4.50 ERA and 16:7 K:BB over 16 innings with Triple-A El Paso. He's landed on his feet quickly and will head to Triple-A Syracuse for now, where he will give the Mets some veteran relief depth.
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Padres' Matt Festa: Signs with Friars
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Festa signed a minor-league contract with the Padres on Friday and received an invitation to major-league spring training.
Festa pitched in parts of four seasons for the Mariners before being DFA'd in August, accumulating a 4.32 career ERA and 1.32 WHIP in 93.2 total innings. He'll get a chance to make the Padres' Opening Day roster, though his role likely caps out as a middle reliever.
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Mariners' Matt Festa: Optioned to Tacoma
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The Mariners optioned Festa to Triple-A Tacoma on Sunday, Ryan Divish of The Seattle Times reports.
With Bryce Miller (finger) returning from the injured list to start Sunday, Festa will serve as the Mariners' roster casualty. The 30-year-old righty made two appearances during his latest major-league stint, throwing 2.1 scoreless frames while giving up one hit and striking out three.
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Mariners' Matt Festa: Optioned to Triple-A
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The Mariners optioned Festa to Triple-A Tacoma on Friday.
Festa made three appearances after being recalled from Tacoma at the end of May, throwing 3.1 hitless innings while striking out five batters and walking three. Despite that impressive stretch, he will head back to Triple-A as Penn Murfee (elbow) returns from the 15-day IL.
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Mariners' Matt Festa: Summoned from Tacoma
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Seattle recalled Festa from Triple-A Tacoma on Wednesday, Ryan Divish of The Seattle Times reports.
Festa excelled with Tacoma after being demoted early in April by the Mariners with a 0.43 ERA and a 16:10 K:BB over 21 innings. The right-hander was a big part of the Seattle bullpen in 2022, but struggled in the early going of the season with a 10.80 ERA (four runs in 3.1 innings). He should be a middle-inning option for Seattle while he's with the club. Darren McCaughan was optioned to Triple-A to open room on the roster for Festa.
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Mariners' Matt Festa: Optioned to Triple-A
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The Mariners optioned Festa to Triple-A Tacoma on Saturday, Ryan Divish of The Seattle Times reports.
Festa struggled in his first two appearances of the year and threw just six of 14 pitches for a strike during Saturday's appearance against the Guardians before being pulled. He was a solid part of the Seattle bullpen in 2023, however, and he'll likely be back as a middle-innings option in the next few weeks.
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Mariners' Matt Festa: Working in middle relief
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Festa has not seen a save opportunity since July 30 and has a 2.70 ERA, 0.75 WHIP and four strikeouts in 6.2 innings in August.
He had a run of high-leverage usage in late July, but is firmly in the middle-relief mix now with Seattle. Paul Sewald and Andres Munoz are the top Mariners relievers to roster in fantasy.