August 9: The Mariners announced that Festa has indeed cleared waivers and become a free agent.
August 8, 9:56pm: Festa’s transaction log at MLB.com indicates he has been placed on release waivers, as required. If he goes unclaimed, he’ll be a free agent later in the week.
3:20pm: The Mariners announced a series of transactions today, claiming right-hander Ryan Jensen off waivers from the Cubs and recalling righty Ryder Ryan from Triple-A. Jensen will report to Triple-A Tacoma. Righty Bryan Woo was placed on the 15-day injured list with right forearm inflammation, retroactive to August 5, while righty Matt Festa was designated for assignment in corresponding moves.
Jensen, 25, was a first-round pick of the Cubs, getting selected 27th overall in 2019. He quickly became considered one of the top 10 prospects in the club’s system though his stock has fallen since then thanks to some mediocre results.
After the pandemic wiped out the minor leagues in 2020, Jensen split 2021 between High-A and Double-A with a 4.16 ERA. Last year, he made 17 Double-A starts with a 4.25 ERA, striking out 23.2% of batters faced while walking 15.1% of them. Nonetheless, the Cubs still had enough belief in him to give him a 40-man roster spot in November, to protect him from being selected in the Rule 5 draft.
Here in 2023, things haven’t gone much better. He made six Double-A starts at the beginning of the year but had a 5.31 ERA in those. In early May, he was moved to the bullpen and has since been promoted to Triple-A, but he has a combined 6.06 ERA in 32 2/3 innings since that time. He has struck out 26.2% of opponents since that bullpen move but given free passes at a 17.7% rate.
It had not been publicly reported that the Cubs removed Jensen from their roster, but they evidently tried to quietly sneak him through waivers with the M’s swooping in to snap him up. They will presumably try to get him to rein in his recent control issues and get him back on a good track.
In order to grab Jensen, the M’s are risking losing Festa, who has now been removed from the roster. He has 89 major league appearances from 2019 to the present season, posting a 4.32 ERA in those. He struck out 29.2% of batters faced last year but also allowed 10 home runs and finished the year with a 4.17 ERA.
Here in 2023, he’s spent most of the season in Triple-A, with a 0.53 ERA in 34 innings. That’s come with a .114 batting average on balls in play and 91.9% strand rate, both of which are unsustainable. His 21.9% strikeout rate and 12.5% walk rate are both subpar, leading to a 4.81 FIP at that level.
According to his transactions tracker at MLB.com, he was placed on the minor league injured list last week. Since injured players can’t be placed on outright waivers and the trade deadline has passed, Festa should be released in the coming days. He’ll be out of options next year but has less than two years of service time, meaning he could be controlled for five future seasons by a club that gives him a roster spot.
Ryan, 28, was just added to the club’s 40-man roster last week. Despite getting that roster spot, they kept him in the minors initially though he will now get a chance to make his major league debut. He’s thrown 40 2/3 innings in Triple-A this year with a 3.54 ERA, 23.3% strikeout rate, 8.7% walk rate and 46% ground ball rate.
As for Woo, the severity of his injury isn’t known, but this sheds some light on the earlier report that the M’s are promoting pitching prospect Emerson Hancock. It had been speculated by some that the club could potentially use a six-man rotation for a while, but now it seems a more straightforward situation where Hancock will step in for Woo.
Right forearm inflammation scares the hell out of me.
It’s a fake injury for the purpose of load management; don’t be scared.
If they were worried about that, they could have simply optioned him, or sat him while Hancock makes a couple of starts while moving a reliever uo & down.
And there’s no argument for service-time manipulation, because he was promoted late to begin with.
No fake injury here, just understandable caution. He’s blown past his IP total from last year.
OH my, and Woo was scheduled to pitch tomorrow I believe.
Will we get to see Emerson Hancock that soon?
Our best to Matt Festa, though.
(I’m probably too quick on this reaction, but I can’t wait)
Wow… a 0.53 ERA in Tacoma gets him optioned? Seems like he should be recalled to the big team!
Darn good PCL numbers. He won’t be long for waivers.
He was on the IL, if I’m not mistaken. Hadn’t pitched since July 28th. But there must be more to this.
Regardless, there’s no reason to not trust Seattle’s judgement with relievers.
Wow… a 0.53 ERA in AAA gets him optioned. Seems like with his experience and performance in Tacoma he should be In Seattle.
I think I read that somewhere.
Zippy, thanks for the laugh! Great reply!!!
Oh, and below too hah
Festa was DFA’d with a 0.53 ERA in Tacoma. Seems like he should have been recalled to the big club instead.
He was just mediocre in the majors. 4.17 ERA last season and 4.00 ERA this season (albeit smaller sample this season). Had some underlying issues keeping him from being successful in the majors.
To add on- this year it was too many BBs, last year it was too many HRs. Not consistent enough.
Sounds like he’s done for the season and out of options for next year which adds a little context for the reason he was DFA.
Didn’t I read that somewhere?
They’re giving up on Festa too soon.
No they’re not. He’s currently the LONGEST tenured Mariner on the roster. If there’s one thing that Jerry Dipoto knows how to do well, it’s build a bullpen from scrap heaps.
Plus he’s injured and out of options next year. I assume he’s done for the year. Maybe they try to sign him to a minor league deal or they may just be done with him.
I’d be on-board for that.
He was mediocre last year and this year and out of options.
This explains why they’re calling up Hancock tomorrow.
Guessing they were planning to DFA Festa to make room for Hancock. And decided to use the extra day to claim Jensen and try to sneak him through waivers when they add Hancock.
Well who do they DFA now to add Hancock tomorrow?
I’m guessing they’ll DFA Jensen and hope to sneak him and/or Festa through waivers.
Probably should but I highly doubt they claim him today to DFA him tomorrow.
Gotta DFA Darren McCaughen, don’t they?
OK I’ll ask the obvious question Mr. Wizard or Armamnents, If the Cubs were trying to sneak him through waivers, What makes you think they won’t claim him back when the MARINERS put him on waivers? I know baseball is hard.
this is a common occurrence. teams will still try to do this, because sometimes players are sent outright and not claimed.
Official once they get the John Hancock
Hate to be a Debbie downer but there’s no joy in Mudville once festa gets pulled
Festa needs a real shot with someone. Just sucks it looks like it will have to be with a bad team.
It will probably be with the Cubs.
Jensen was largely a disappointment who was touted as a future closer but kept switching back and forth between relieving and starting. My guess is the Cubs needed the 40 man spot to add a reliever for a quick call up. The bullpen has been taxed in their 16 game straight schedule but they have like 3 days off in 7 days after the Mets series. Shane Greene could be the guy he just showed up at Iowa or one of the young guys. But the Iowa relievers have been pretty cold lately. Should be interesting to see what they do.
Numbers seem to indicate it should be the other way around (release the guy they signed and sign the guy thru released).
Great draft pick by the Cubbies. Underslot college pitcher reach round 1 lmao
Guess Seattle won’t be getting any ‘Festa’vus gifts this year….
Related to Uncle Festa?
Let’s see what. MLB Team has done their Homework. What the Scouts think of Festa.
Wishing Festa the best of luck
Wasn’t he a catcher of the future with the Giants once upon a time?
There’s something more to be heard from Festa. Last year Festa was on the team, what he does have is ability what he needs to work through is his sequencing of his pitches since his stuff is not overwhelming he needs to become all the more crafty eventually I expect he will get there. If he recognizes his strength, and weaknesses.