Mason Barnett: Everything you need to know

The Athletics optioned Barnett to Triple-A Las Vegas on Monday. Barnett needed 43 pitches to cover two-plus innings Sunday versus the White Sox in his lone appearance in the majors. Since Barnett would have been unavailable to pitch for a day or two, the Athletics have summoned a fresh bullpen arm to take his roster spot.

The Athletics recalled Barnett from Triple-A Las Vegas on Saturday. Barnett opened the 2026 season in the minors after failing to make the Athletics' Opening Day roster. He has a 2-0 record across three starts in Triple-A with a 3.07 ERA, 1.62 WHIP and 14:10 K:BB across 14.2 innings. The Athletics optioned Elvis Alvarado to Las Vegas in a corresponding move, indicating that Barnett will likely operate out of the A's bullpen in a long-relief role.

The Athletics optioned Barnett to Triple-A Las Vegas on Monday. Barnett made five late-season starts for the Athletics in 2025, submitting a 6.85 ERA and 1.66 WHIP across 22.1 innings in what was his first taste of the big leagues. With the Athletics rotation in better health heading into 2026, Barnett wasn't able to clinch a spot on the Opening Day roster, but he should be one of the top candidates to get a call-up from Triple-A whenever the big club is in need of a spot starter.