The Athletics have sent right-hander Geoff Hartlieb outright to Triple-A Las Vegas, according to his transactions tracker at MLB.com. That indicates that Harlieb cleared waivers after being designated for assignment on Friday. As someone who has been outrighted before, he has the option to elect free agency rather than accept the assignment to Triple-A.
Hartlieb has done well at Triple-A this year, pitching to a 3.48 ERA in 33 2/3 innings for Las Vegas. In that time, he has struck out 28.9% of hitters while showing better-than-average control and inducing ground balls at a 50.0% clip. Since the start of 2025, Hartlieb has a 4.03 ERA in 87 Triple-A innings between four organizations, fitting the mold of a fringe, Quad-A reliever.
As one might expect from that description, Hartlieb hasn’t shown much in the Majors. His best sample came in 2020 with the Pirates, when he posted 3.63 ERA in 22 1/3 innings out of the bullpen. Even that production came with red flags. Hartlieb struck out and walked hitters at equal 18.8% rates, which caused his xERA and FIP values to finish just above 5.00. He has a relatively clean injury history but simply hasn’t shown enough to warrant an extended look in the Majors since then. Dating back to 2021, Hartlieb has thrown just 34 innings in the big leagues with a 9.00 ERA. That includes a 5.19 ERA in four appearances with the Athletics at the end of last month.
Hartlieb averages in the mid-90s with his four-seamer and has combined to throw that pitch, along with his mid-80s slider, over 80% of the time at Triple-A this year. He also mixes in a cutter, sinker, and in rare cases a changeup. Between that pitch mix and Hartlieb’s serviceable (if underwhelming) recent track record at Triple-A, there may be some fringe interest from around the league, though he could ultimately end up sticking in the Athletics organization. Hartlieb has been outrighted five times since the start of 2024, including today. He stayed with his current organization on three of those occasions, once by accepting the outright and twice by signing new minor league deals.
Photo courtesy of Scott Marshall, Imagn Images
