Free-agent right-hander Matt Festa signed a minor-league deal with the San Diego Padres on Friday that includes an invitation to major-league spring training. Festa comes over to the Friars after parts of four seasons with the Seattle Mariners. In 2023, he threw nine relief innings and gave up four earned runs on four hits (one homer) while walking 12 and striking out 13. The 30-year-old was designated for assignment in August and has a career 4.32 ERA (4.77 FIP), 1.32 WHIP, 44 walks and 102 strikeouts in 93 2/3 innings covering 89 appearances (one start) at the big-league level. Festa isn't anywhere near the fantasy radar and will most likely be a mop-up middle reliever out of San Diego's bullpen if he's pitching in the big leagues at any point in 2024.
Seattle Mariners reliever Matthew Festa will make the start against the Astros on Wednesday as the opener for a bullpen game. While Festa does have a nice 1.69 ERA, he's thrown just 5 1/3 innings over four outings in the big league this year and can be avoided in all fantasy leagues, as he will likely only go an inning or two.
