Former Seattle Mariners Pitcher Signs Deal with Division Rival
Former Seattle Mariners pitcher Matt Festa signed a minor league contract with American League West rivals Texas Rangers on Wednesday, according to MLB Trade Rumors.
Festa pitched for the Mariners from 2018-2023, but his time with Seattle was impacted by injuries. In 89 games with Seattle, Festa had a 4.32 ERA, pitched 93.2 innings and struck out 102 batters.
Matt Festa strikes out Jo Adell. pic.twitter.com/AV8ygQNl15
— Mariners Minors (@MiLBMariners) July 4, 2022
Festa had Tommy John surgery in March 2020 which kept him out for that year and for 2021. He returned for 2022 but was designated for assignment on Aug. 8, 2023. He subsequently released that same day. That 2022 season was by far the best for Festa, as he appeared in 53 games and helped the Mariners get to the playoffs.
Festa signed a minor league contract with the San Diego Padres in January of this year and was invited to spring training but didn't have his contract selected. Festa failed to advance past the Padres' Triple-A affiliate El Paso Chihuahuas and was released on May 16.
Festa didn't wait long to find a home and signed a minor league deal with the New York Mets on May 19. He pitched 11 games for the team's Triple-A Syracuse Mets and performed well — posting a 1.76 ERA with 19 strikeouts.
Festa was rewarded for his solid stint in Syracuse and his contract was selected on June 30. That same day, he made his lone appearance for the Mets and gave up five runs on four hits in one inning. He was DFA'd and sent back down to Syracuse, but Festa selected free agency — leading to his signing with the Rangers.
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