Cubs Acquire Matt Festa from Rangers

[Bertz]

 

[Derwood]

If you're asking what kind of reliever can be had in a trade for cash, the answer is "a sub-replacement level" one

[Dfan25]

No minor league options . Sweet

[Dfan25]

Nvm 

Edited January 9, 2025 by Dfan25

[Bertz]

FWIW both of the pitch models on Fangraphs actually like what he did in limited time last year quite a bit

[Bertz]

Also not that it's been much of a secret but outright dumping Mastro further outlines that a LHH infielder is going to get added to the big league bench.  Also makes me wonder if the intention is to trade to keep Workman even if the Rule 5 stuff doesn't work out.

[Rob]

10 minutes ago, Bertz said:

 

LOB% of 44.1% last year. Literally the worst in baseball of anybody with more than 20 IP. His previous numbers had hovered around 75%.

Seems like the inflated ERA last year may just be bad sequencing in a small sample size.

He's no great shakes, but there's some pitch modeling stuff that doesn't hate him either.

[SOFNR]

While these bullpen additions have obviously been super underwhelming I'm still not really concerned yet.  Festa was solid against righties last year. He's probably going to cost under a million. They probably think they can tinker with him. Sure he's out of options but he still shouldn't really impact anything else they do this offseason.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Do not be me and accidentally stumble onto *David* Festa's fangraphs page thinking he was the acquisition.  That will really dampen your already limited enthusiasm for Matt Festa.

[Post Count Padder]

Meh. He went to my brother's alma mater so there's that. 

RIP Mastro. Maybe they try to sneak him through waivers but I could see a team needing a utility bench player sending us some cash.

[Bertz]

 

 

[WhyCantWeWin]

So we got our closer and got rid of Mastroboner??

 

Hoyer stock is 📈📈📈

[Ding Dong Johnson]

Miles Mastrobuoni sucks, and we should be happy to see him go.

[Post Count Padder]

So our current pen depth chart is:

Hodge (making the team)

Pearson (making the team)

Morgan (making the team)

Miller (making the team, no options)

Theilbar (making the team, no options)

Thompson (no options)

Zastryzny (no options)

Merryweather (no options)

Festa (no options)

So Spring Training could see a lot of turnover potentially if there are more additions (there should/will be) and some surprise performances (someone like Brown or Ethan Roberts or Little or Neely could easily steal a spot).

[Jason Ross]

Just now, Post Count Padder said:

So our current pen depth chart is:

Hodge (making the team)

Pearson (making the team)

Morgan (making the team)

Miller (making the team, no options)

Theilbar (making the team, no options)

Thompson (no options)

Zastryzny (no options)

Merryweather (no options)

Festa (no options)

So Spring Training could see a lot of turnover potentially if there are more additions (there should/will be) and some surprise performances (someone like Brown or Ethan Roberts or Little or Neely could easily steal a spot).

Yep. There's a handful of guys who will make the roster barring health and probably 2-4 spots that can go to the older, veteran pitch-model guys or could easily be cast off (low cost of acquisition, no long term commitment) for younger players forcing their way in. 

[Post Count Padder]

Mastrobùoni traded to the Mariners for cash. 

 

Insert joke about cash having a higher oWAR next season or the cash just going right into the Trump fund instead of the organization