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
Rotowire
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
Rotowire
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: Designated for assignment
Rotowire
The Mets designated Festa for assignment Wednesday, Mike Puma of the New York Post reports.
Festa was roughed up for five runs (four earned) over one inning in his lone appearance with the Mets. He's clearing out to make room on the roster for Christian Scott, who will start Wednesday's game versus the Nationals.
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Mets' Matt Festa: Rough season debut
Rotowire
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
Rotowire
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
Rotowire
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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Matt Festa: Released by San Diego
Rotowire
The Padres released Festa on Thursday.
Festa had been with Triple-A El Paso, where he posted a 4.50 ERA and 16:7 K:BB over 16 innings. It's possible this was an opt-out situation and Festa has something lined up with another organization, although that is not confirmed. The 31-year-old holds a career 4.32 ERA and 102:44 K:BB over 93.2 innings covering parts of four big-league seasons.
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Padres' Matt Festa: Signs with Friars
Rotowire
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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Matt Festa: Cut by Mariners
Rotowire
The Mariners released Festa on Tuesday.
He had been designated for assignment and is now free to look for a gig elsewhere after clearing waivers. Festa has yielded four earned runs and walked 12 over nine major-league innings this season.
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Mariners' Matt Festa: Designated for assignment
Rotowire
Festa was designated for assignment by the Mariners on Tuesday.
This move clears out a 40-man roster spot for Ryan Jensen, who has been claimed off waivers from the Cubs. Festa, 30, had allowed four earned runs on four hits and 12 walks in just nine major-league innings this year.
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Mariners' Matt Festa: Optioned to Tacoma
Rotowire
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: Summoned to big leagues
Rotowire
Festa was called up to the Mariners from Triple-A Tacoma on Monday, Ryan Divish of The Seattle Times reports.
Festa is assuming the roster and bullpen spot vacated by Trevor Gott, who was traded to the Mets. The right-handed Festa holds a 5.40 ERA over six relief appearances in the majors in 2023.
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Mariners' Matt Festa: Optioned to Triple-A
Rotowire
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
Rotowire
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
Rotowire
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: Good start to spring
Rotowire
Festa has fired two perfect innings during which he's recorded two strikeouts across two Cactus League appearances this spring.
The 30-year-old right-hander logged a career-high 54 innings across 53 appearances in 2022, posting a 2-0 record, two saves and six holds with a 4.17 ERA and 1.13 WHIP. Festa produced an impressive 10.7 K/9 along the way and was involved in high-leverage work at times, but he's likely ticketed for more of a middle-relief role in 2023 as long as there aren't a rash of injuries in front of him.
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Mariners' Matt Festa: Working in middle relief
Rotowire
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.
