In a whirlwind of roster moves, the New York Yankees have made bold decisions to shake up their bullpen, parting ways with right-hander Geoff Hartlieb and swiftly signing Joel Kuhnel to a minor league deal. The announcements, made on July 5, 2025, signal the Yankees’ relentless pursuit of pitching depth as they fine-tune their roster for the stretch run.
Geoff Hartlieb, 31, found himself on the wrong side of the Yankees’ roster crunch. Signed to a minor league deal in the offseason, Hartlieb earned a call-up to the big leagues on Monday. His stay was short-lived and turbulent. In his lone appearance against the Toronto Blue Jays on Tuesday, Hartlieb struggled mightily, surrendering three earned runs on two hits and three walks in just one inning, though he did manage three strikeouts. With no minor league options remaining, the Yankees had no choice but to designate him for assignment on Wednesday to clear space on the active roster.
Hartlieb, who has previously been outrighted in his career, exercised his right to reject an outright assignment and elected free agency after clearing waivers. While his MLB outing was a disaster, his Triple-A performance with Scranton/Wilkes-Barre painted a different picture. Over 35 innings, he posted a solid 3.34 ERA, a 26.2% strikeout rate, a tidy 6.9% walk rate, and a 41.3% ground ball rate. Despite these promising numbers, his big league track record remains underwhelming, with a 7.62 ERA across 80 1/3 innings, hampered by a 14.9% walk rate despite a strong 48% ground ball rate. Now a free agent, Hartlieb will look to latch on with another club willing to bet on his minor league success and groundball tendencies.
Not wasting a moment, the Yankees moved quickly to bolster their pitching depth, inking 30-year-old right-hander Joel Kuhnel to a minor league contract fresh off his release from the Philadelphia Phillies. Kuhnel, who likely triggered an opt-out clause in his Phillies deal, brings a groundball-heavy profile that aligns perfectly with the Yankees’ pitching philosophy. Assigned to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, Kuhnel will aim to work his way onto the big league roster.
Kuhnel’s 2025 season with Triple-A Lehigh Valley was impressive, as he posted a 3.62 ERA over 32 1/3 innings. His 20.6% strikeout rate was modest, but his microscopic 3.1% walk rate and an eye-popping 66.3% ground ball rate made him a standout. This formula—limiting walks and inducing grounders—has been Kuhnel’s calling card throughout his career. In 93 2/3 MLB innings, he’s maintained a 5.9% walk rate and a 52% ground ball rate, though his 5.86 ERA reflects some bad luck, with a .311 BABIP and a 63.8% strand rate. Advanced metrics like his 4.46 FIP and 3.77 SIERA suggest he’s been more effective than his ERA indicates.
The Yankees’ love for groundball pitchers is no secret, and Kuhnel fits the mold perfectly. As the old adage goes, there’s no such thing as a bad minor league deal, and Kuhnel’s signing is a low-risk, high-reward move for a team looking to maximize every roster spot. Meanwhile, Hartlieb’s departure underscores the harsh reality of a game where one bad outing can end a stint. As the Yankees continue to churn their roster, Kuhnel’s sinker-heavy arsenal could soon make an impact in the Bronx, while Hartlieb searches for his next opportunity on the open market.