The MLB-best Detroit Tigers have a number of ex-Yankees players on their team and it’s made their ascension that much more frustrating for New York fas. All of Gleyber Torres, Tommy Kahnle, Trey Sweeney, Jahmai Jones and Dietrich Enns have made some sort of a notable impact during the first half (or dating back to the second half of last year).
And another former Yankee just latched on with Detroit. The Tigers signed reliever Geoff Hartlieb, who had a 40.00 ERA before he was designated for assignment by New York last week to make room for top prospect Cam Schlittler. It was the second time he was DFA’d this year (the other came after his other poor outing against the Toronto Blue Jays on July 1).
Hartlieb joined the Tigers on a minor-league contract and will report to Triple-A Toledo … after rejecting a minor league assignment with the Yankees. Ok, then. Perhaps he thinks the Tigers can fix him, because there was actually a chance he would’ve ended back up with the Yankees’ big league bullpen due to depth and injury issues.
We’re sure the Tigers have some use for him, but man, it seems like they’re just trying to make the Yankees pay for letting any player go. Hartlieb gave up six earned runs in 1 1/3 innings of work with the Yankees across two dreadful appearances.
Before that? He logged a total of seven games from 2022-2024 with the Marlins and Rockies. Enjoy, we guess.
Veteran right-hander Geoff Hartlieb, recently DFA’d by the Yankees, elected free agency after clearing waivers and signed a minor-league deal with the Tigers. He’s been assigned to Toledo.
https://twitter.com/evanwoodbery/status/1944572575696212469?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
Tigers sign former Yankees pitcher Geoff Hartlieb in bizarre transaction
Hartlieb’s performance against the Seattle Mariners last week really made him a target among Yankees fans. The righty was called upon in the top of the eighth inning to eat outs and get the Yankees across the finish line as they led 10-0.
Somehow, Hartlieb only recorded one out before Aaron Boone had to go to the bullpen two more times. The inning went single, double, home run, strikeout, and walk for Hartlieb. The game was never in danger, but it became a lot more difficult after the M’s got a semblance of life after trailing by double digits.
It’s hard to lobby for somebody as a major leaguer if they can’t at least record three outs in a blowout of that nature, which is why the Yankees cut ties when they did. As for the Tigers’ interest? We have no idea. Going to chalk it up to extra bodies at Toledo so they don’t burn their pitching depth.
