Former Seattle Mariners Reliever Matt Festa Joins Chicago Cubs After Trade
Matt Festa, a former Seattle Mariners reliever, has quickly found a new home after being designated for assignment by the Texas Rangers. He was traded to the Chicago Cubs in exchange for cash considerations, according to the Cubs’ announcement.
To make space on the 40-man roster, infielder Miles Mastrobuoni has been designated for assignment. The Cubs’ 40-man roster now stands at 40 players.
Festa, 31, made his MLB debut with the Mariners in 2018, and over the next few years, he appeared in games in 2018, 2019, 2022, and 2023. In 2022, he played a crucial role in the Mariners’ bullpen, featuring in 53 games as the team made its first playoff appearance since 2001. Festa posted a solid 4.17 ERA that season, joining Paul Sewald, Andres Munoz, Penn Murfee, and Matt Brash as key contributors.
Since leaving Seattle, Festa has pitched for the New York Mets and the Rangers. In 2024, he made 19 appearances, 18 of which were for Texas, recording a 5.70 ERA.
Now with the Cubs, Festa will look to secure a spot in their bullpen as the team aims to compete in the National League Central. Chicago finished tied for second place last season but was 10 games behind the division-leading Milwaukee Brewers. The Cubs have been busy this offseason, adding former Mariners pitcher Matthew Boyd and former Astros outfielder Kyle Tucker to their roster while trading away Isaac Paredes and Cody Bellinger.
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