The 2025 MLB All-Star break is here, and the Boston Red Sox are entering the stoppage with a ton of momentum on their side. Alex Cora's club looks like a playoff team again as they head into the break on a 10-game win streak, leaving the Red Sox in possession of the American League's second wild-card spot, as well as three games behind the Toronto Blue Jays for the AL East lead.
With the All-Star festivities here, MLB clubs spent the weekend making some last-minute transactions before the action is paused. One of those moves involved a former Red Sox minor-league pitcher, who just signed a contract with one of baseball's top World Series threats.
Former Red Sox RHP Geoff Hartlieb Signs with Tigers Before All-Star Break
MLB Trade Rumors' Mark Polishuk is reporting that former Red Sox right-handed pitcher Geoff Hartlieb has signed a minor-league contract with the Detroit Tigers. The 31-year-old hurler elected free agency last week after being designated for assignment by the New York Yankees, and will report to Triple-A Toledo to start fresh.
In fact, he already made his Mud Hens debut on Sunday, striking out two batters in 1 1/3 innings while being credited with the win in a 6-5 victory over the Omaha Storm Chasers.
Hartlieb joins the Tigers as he looks for stability after being DFA'd by the Yankees twice in one week. The former Lindenwood University product pitched to a horrific 40.50 ERA in two outings (1 1/3 innings) with New York, which was all Boston's rival needed to see before kicking the Highland, IL native to the curb.
Red Sox fans will remember Hartlieb from spending parts of the 2021 and 2022 seasons with the franchise. He didn't play any MLB games during that stretch, though, and elected free agency ahead of the 2023 campaign after going 3-6 with a 5.16 ERA in 40 games (3 starts) with Triple-A Worcester.
Since leaving the Red Sox, Hartlieb has made big-league appearances with the Yankees, Miami Marlins, and Colorado Rockies. Having said that, only having nine MLB appearances in the last three seasons is pretty telling about his outlook, especially if the former Boston pitcher keeps failing to capitalize on every opportunity he's given.
The Red Sox won't play the Tigers again until the final series of the regular season, leaving time to tell if Hartlieb can fight his way back to the Majors in time for that collision at Fenway Park.