CLEVELAND -- The Guardians added additional bullpen depth on Wednesday, when they acquired right-hander Matt Festa from the Rangers for cash considerations. Festa, who is not currently a member of Cleveland’s 40-man roster, has been assigned to Triple-A Columbus.
The Guardians have made a flurry of moves in recent days to add fresh arms to their bullpen, amid a stretch of 22 games in 23 days. That has included selecting Kolby Allard (Saturday) and Vince Velasquez (Tuesday) from Columbus, and Cleveland also recalled Joey Cantillo from Columbus on Tuesday. He was optioned on Monday but brought back a day later after Paul Sewald landed on the 15-day injured list with a right shoulder strain.
Festa adds another reliever to the organization who could contribute to the Major League bullpen at some point. The 32-year-old signed a Minor League deal with Texas on Feb. 12, and he did not allow a run in 14 2/3 innings over nine appearances with Round Rock, the Rangers’ Triple-A affiliate. He allowed 10 hits and seven walks while striking out 20.
Festa has recorded a 4.60 ERA in 108 career appearances across a five-year Major League career with the Mariners, Rangers and Mets. He re-signed with Texas in February after spending the 2024-25 offseason with the Cubs, upon splitting last season with the Mets and Rangers -- for whom he recorded a 5.70 ERA in 23 2/3 innings over 19 appearances.
Festa made a career-high 53 appearances with Seattle in 2022 and recorded a 4.17 ERA in 54 innings.
The Guardians also announced right-hander Slade Cecconi will start for Columbus on Wednesday as he begins a rehab assignment. Cecconi (whom Cleveland acquired from Arizona for Josh Naylor on Dec. 21) opened the season on the 15-day IL with a left oblique strain.
Cecconi recorded a 6.66 ERA in 77 innings over 20 games (including 13 starts) for Arizona in 2024. He posted a 4.33 ERA in 27 innings over seven appearances (four starts) as a rookie in ‘23.