Former Key Seattle Mariners Reliever Signs Minor League Deal with National League Team

Former Seattle Mariners reliever Matt Festa, who was vital to the team during their 2022 playoff run, has signed a minor league deal with the San Diego Padres.

Per MLBTradeRumors:

The Padres announced their list of non-roster Spring Training invitees this evening. Among the acquisitions not previously covered at MLBTR: reliever Matt Festa and utility player Tyler Wade. San Diego also brought back catcher Chandler Seagle on a new minor league pact after he’d elected free agency.

The 30-year-old New York native has appeared in the majors in four different seasons with the Mariners, the best being that 2022 season that saw him go 2-0 with a 4.17 ERA in 53 games. He also pitched in 2018, 2019 and 2023.

Unfortunately, he wasn't able to replicate his 2022 year in 2023, making just eight appearances and tossing only nine innings. He pitched excellently though at Triple-A in 2023, going 1-0 with a 0.53 ERA in 28 innings, so there may be hope for him to turn it around in San Diego.

The Mariners were clearly comfortable letting him go considering the success they've had at developing relievers. In addition to Festa's success, they've also helped build up Paul Sewald, Drew Steckenrider, Justin Topa, Gabe Speier and Isaiah Campbell in the last few years. Topa, Speier, Andres Munoz, and Matt Brash figure to help anchor the bullpen in Seattle in 2024.

As for Festa and the Padres, they are coming off a season in which they finished third in the National League West and failed to make the playoffs.