The Yankees and right-hander Geoff Hartlieb are in agreement on a minor league deal, as noted in the transactions tracker on Hartlieb’s MLB.com profile page. The deal presumably includes an invite to big league Spring Training next year.
Hartlieb, 31 in December, got his start in pro ball as a 29th-round pick by the Pirates in the 2016 draft. The righty made a fairly speedy ascent up the minor league ladder in order to debut with the Pirates during the 2019 season. The then-25-year-old Hartlieb struggled badly in his first taste of big league action as he surrendered a 9.00 ERA in 35 innings of work during his rookie year, thanks primarily to a 10.5% walk rate and a whopping eight home runs surrendered during that time. Things seemed to turn around for the right-hander during the shortened 2020 campaign as he settled in at the big league level and posted a solid 3.63 ERA in 22 1/3 innings of work, but a look under the hood revealed that Hartlieb walked as many hitters (19) as he struck out that year.
In the years since then, Hartlieb hasn’t gotten very much playing time at the big league level. He’s appeared in the majors during the 2021, ’23, and ’24 seasons but has combined for a total of just 22 innings during that time, posting an 8.59 ERA with a 17.3% strikeout rate against a 16.4% walk rate across stints with the Pirates, Mets, Marlins, and Rockies. Colorado was his most recent stop, and he surrendered ten runs (nine earned) while striking out seven and walking four in nine innings of work for the club this year before being outrighted off the club’s roster back in June.
Despite his lackluster results in the majors, the right-hander has looked solid enough at Triple-A throughout his career with a 4.30 ERA and a 24.8% strikeout rate across 226 career innings at the level. His control leaves something to be desired even at that level, however, as he’s surrendered free passes to 10% of his Triple-A opponents over the years. For a Yankees club that’s currently playing in the World Series, the addition of Hartlieb is far from an obvious needle-mover. With that being said, however, the club’s bullpen has generated generally impressive results by utilizing players like Luke Weaver, Tim Hill, and Ian Hamilton who hadn’t been able to find consistent success at the big league level prior to joining the club.
Given the club’s solid track record of turning the castoffs of other organizations into quality big league contributors in recent years, it’s easy to see why the Yankees might think they could turn Hartlieb and his 97.3 mph heater into a legitimate big league weapon. Unearthing another hidden gem for the bullpen this winter could be extremely helpful for the club given the impending free agencies of Hill, Tommy Kahnle, and Clay Holmes. Each of those arms have been a major part of the club’s success this year, with Holmes in particular serving as the club’s closer in the early part of the season before being replaced in the role by Weaver down the stretch.
Always flashed good stuff with the Pirates, but never any command to make it count.
After watching first two games of WS, front office realized team needed “heart”.
Now this is how you soften the blow of losing a World Series
Better he than Mayza
I want to see the Draft Kings bet on how soon Smoltz will cream over Ohtani in each game…. He made it to the second batter in the top of the first inning tonight. I was super proud of him.
Smoltz is usually a decent commentator, but yeah he’s definitely infatuated with Ohtani lol
I do wonder about Smoltz’s math skills, though. I recall him once discussing the nine quadrants of the strike zone.
And how often can one person use the word “narrative”? He uses it more times in one game than I think I have in my 47 years on this earth combined.
“Cream over Ohtani”..John Smoltz never shuts up. And “what I mean by that”, is that he talks so much he ruins the viewing experience.
I don’t see how Joe Davis can stand it.
I have music on while watching the games.
I feel bad for all you guys. We get the international broadcast in Canada. The commentators are Dave Flemming (Giants) and Ryan Spilborghs (Rockies).
I find them to be tolerable. Certainly a lot better then Smoltz.
Shame you probably can’t find the international feed somewhere.
Spilly is really good if he is paired with a serious guy. He gets a little too goofy otherwise. It works when the game is a blowout, but when you are watching a close game it can get irritating.
Just thought of it YC.. Don’t they have Buck Martinez as 1 of their announcers, u know, who does color commentary also for the Jays? he’s top notch. Wonder why they chose Smoltzie over him.
Not certain Ohtani will be back in the series. Also not sure it will matter.
Thank you, Nick. I got tired of checking Hartlieb’s MLB.com profile last week. Would’ve missed this transaction!
Media: “Aaron, the Yankees left more runners in base again tonight and didn’t score – why?”
Boone: “Well, they had really tough ABs against their pitchers and I’m proud of our guys. It’s just their pitchers were throwing well, located, getting good spin.”
Media: “So, all of their pitchers? Well, let’s talk about their hitters…”
Boone: “Oh yeah, their hitters were all hitting, had good timing, and had magnificent eyes at the plate. Our pitchers pitched competitively, so I’m proud of them.”
Media: “Could it be your approach at the plate? Could it be your middle-middle meatballs on the pitching side?”
Crickets…….
I hope Ohtani is okay, on a serious note.
Quick, get him on the roster so Boone can bring him in to blow a game.
Potentially an expensive win for the Dodgers. Let’s wait and see how Ohtani recovers.
I guess they’ve given up on this season and are getting ready for 2025.
Smarting from losing the first two in LA, Cashman is discovered sniffing in the dumpster.
Here we go again, scraping the bottom for lightning in a bottle! More smoke and mirrors from Hal and Cashman
Remember today. The day the WS turned back in our favor all due to… hang on a sec I have to scroll back up… Geoff Hartlieb.
Your move, Dodgers.