Chicago Cubs relinquesh reliever to clear a roster spot

The Chicago Cubs made it a point to add to their bullpen this season and find a lockdown closer for the backend.

They accomplished that task by adding left-hander Caleb Thielbar on a one-year deal and trading for All-Star closed Ryan Pressly to pair with future closer Porter Hodge.

Both along with Hodges will be key pieces in the Cubs bullpen which is forming into one of the best in baseball.

The Chicago Cubs DFA veteran reliever

To make room for Pressly on the 40-man roster the Cubs designated reliever Matt Festa for assignment per Jesse Rogers. The Cubs acquired Festa earlier this offseason from the Texas Rangers in which they sent them cash considerations.

“The Cubs designate P Matt Festa for assignment to make room on the roster for Ryan Pressly. The trade has been completed. Class-A pitcher Juan Bello goes back to Hou.”

The Cubs designate P Matt Festa for assignment to make room on the roster for Ryan Pressly. The trade has been completed. Class-A pitcher Juan Bello goes back to Hou.

— Jesse Rogers (@JesseRogersESPN) January 28, 2025

The 31-year-old Matt Festa was drafted by the Seattle Mariners in the seventh round of the 2016 MLB June Amateur Draft. Festa made his Major League Debut on July 14th, 2018, against the Colorado Rockies pitching 0.2 of an inning and allowing two hits. During his tenure with the Seattle Mariners Matt Festa had a 4.32 ERA, with 102 strikeouts in 93.2 innings pitched.

The East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania alumni signed with the New York Mets as a free agent for 2024 where he made one appearance in which he allowed five runs, four of them earned, in just one inning of work. Festa was subsequently granted his release to free agency where he ended up signing with the Texas Rangers. During his time with the Ranger Festa made 18 appearances, with a 6-0 record, a 4.37 ERA, and 23 strikeouts in 22.2 innings of work.

What Festa would’ve brought to the Cubs

The Brooklyn, New York native is a four-pitch pitcher who primarily uses a four-seam fastball (40%), a sweeper (33.2%), and a cutter (26.5%). Festa would’ve provided valuable depth in case of injury, but with having other veteran relievers on the roster Festa was expendable.

The Cubs will now have seven days to either trade Festa or place him on outright or irrevocable waivers. Festa is currently out of minor-league options but has less than five years of service time so he could be sent down. Given that teams always need arms, I figure a team will take a chance on Festa.

Moving forward

The Cub’s roster and their bullpen are starting to take shape now that spring is coming closer.

Festa has a decent arm and will find a team somewhere even if it’s in the minor leagues.

For now, the Cubs bullpen is taking form and looking primed to be one of the better bullpens in the National League.