Matt Harvey's time with the A's could come to an end before he even makes Oakland's major league roster.
Harvey told the San Francisco Chronicle's Susan Slusser that he has an out in his minor league contract with the A's, which takes place on Thursday. This means if MLB teams show interest in him as a big-league pitcher, particularly as a starter, he could choose to move on from the A's.
Harvey, 30, will be a free agent this offseason and wants to be on a big-league roster before the end of the season.
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The A's signed the former NL All-Star to a minor league contract on Aug. 14. Since then, he has started three games for the Las Vegas Aviators. Harvey suffered his worst start of the three Tuesday night.
After going two starts without allowing a walk, Harvey issued four free bases against the Albuquerque Isotopes in a 10-6 loss. He also struck out seven, but allowed seven hits and four earned runs over five innings.
Harvey now has a 3.60 ERA in the starts for Oakland's Triple-A affiliate. The right-hander has allowed six earned runs, but four came in his last start.
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Oakland Athletics
There simply might not be any room for Harvey on the A's big league staff, especially in the starting rotation. Manager Bob Melvin already has talked about a possible six-man rotation when Sean Manaea returns from his rehab in Triple-A, and that's excluding Harvey.
If the "Dark Knight" ever does rise again, it might not be in Oakland after all.