Athletics Designate Joey Meneses For Assignment

The A’s made a series of roster moves before Saturday night’s matchup against the Nationals. Right-hander Geoff Hartlieb was selected to the big-league club, taking the spot of injured reliever Justin Sterner. First baseman Joey Meneses was designated for assignment to open a 40-man roster spot.

The 34-year-old Meneses appeared in nine games with the Athletics. He went 3-for-20 in a limited role. The club now has five days to find a trade partner or place Meneses on waivers. He’s been outrighted before, so he’ll have the right to reject an outright assignment and test free agency.

Meneses was a late bloomer, breaking into the big leagues as a 30-year-old with Washington. He put together a tremendous .324/.367/.563 slash line in a half-season with the team, earning him the full-time first base gig in 2023. He finished as a slightly below-league-average bat in his lone full season as a big leaguer. The power dissipated for Meneses that year. After homering 13 times across 240 plate appearances in his debut, he followed it up with 13 dingers in 657 PAs.

While his time in the majors was uneventful, Meneses has performed well in the minors this season. He delivered a 122 wRC+ in 72 games at Triple-A. That production comes with a bit of an asterisk, as the A’s affiliate plays at the extremely hitter-friendly Las Vegas Ballpark, but perhaps it’s enough to entice a team looking for first base depth.

Hartlieb was DFAed in early July. He passed through waivers and accepted a minor league assignment. The righty has now found his way back on the 40-man roster. Hartlieb has a 5.19 ERA in four games with the A’s. He’ll provide some length to a bullpen that was heavily taxed in last night’s 23-4 drubbing.

Sterner has been a regular in the A’s bullpen this season. He’s dealing with a right knee injury. He was destroyed for six earned runs yesterday, recording just one out. Sterner was having a decent year heading into July, but has permitted 12 runs over four frames this month.