Oakland Athletics Pitcher Rejects Outright; Joins Free Agency

29-year-old right-handed reliever for the Oakland Athletics, Rico Garcia, has chosen to explore free agency after declining an outright assignment to Triple-A Las Vegas.

Following his designation for assignment on July 10, Garcia cleared waivers without being claimed and was subsequently sent to the minor leagues.

Despite his struggles in the major leagues, where he has posted a high 6.89 ERA over 27 appearances spanning four seasons, Garcia has displayed promise at the Triple-A level, recording an impressive 2.34 ERA last season.

Rico Garcia has declined his outright assignment and is now a free agent.

— Jessica Kleinschmidt (@KleinschmidtJD) July 11, 2023

Reports indicate that Garcia's decision to elect free agency stems from his desire for a fresh start and the opportunity to revitalize his professional baseball career.

While the Athletics have not confirmed whether Garcia will remain with the Las Vegas team as a non-roster player or pursue opportunities with other organizations, his choice to explore other options suggests a willingness to seek new opportunities elsewhere.

For his minor-league career, Garcia holds a 3.55 ERA, 1.30 WHIP, with 493 strikeouts across 471.1 innings of work. Photo Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports