One day after he reportedly considered his way out of the organization, Matt Harvey has decided to stay put.
According to Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle, the former Mets RHP will remain with the Athletics, bypassing his opt-out clause Thursday and sticking in Oakland's system as the team eyes a new role for him.
The A's, who on Aug. 14 signed Harvey to a minor-league deal, hope the 30-year-old can carve out a spot as an MLB reliever.
"Gonna give it a shot," Harvey said of the bullpen in a text message to The Chronicle.
After his rise through New York's farm system as the seventh overall pick in the 2010 MLB June Amateur Draft, the North Carolina Tar Heel starred with the Mets for five-plus years from 2012-18. An All-Star at 24, Harvey helped the Mets reach the 2015 World Series before fizzling out over the subsequent three seasons, getting traded to the Cincinnati Reds last May and signing with the Los Angeles Angels in December.
The stint in Los Angeles on a one-year, $11 million deal lasted until July 21 when the Angels released him. With the Angels, Harvey went 3-5, sporting a 7.09 ERA.
In three starts as a member of Oakland's Triple-A Las Vegas Aviators, Harvey is 1-0 with a 3.60 ERA and 1.07 WHIP, striking out 18 while walking four over 15.0 innings. He lasted 5.0 innings his last time out Wednesday, allowing four runs on seven hits and striking out seven to four walks.
In his 145 career games, Harvey has made five appearances as a reliever. All of those came with the Mets -- largely in 2018 -- where he surrendered 10 runs on 11 hits (four home runs) and seven walks.