Bartee played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Detroit Tigers, Cincinnati Reds, and Colorado Rockies from 1996 to 2001.

[6] He was claimed off waivers by the Detroit Tigers from the Orioles during the subsequent spring training on March 13, 1996.

[12] On July 13, 2001, he was traded by the Angels to the Colorado Rockies for future All-Star Chone Figgins.

Rockies general manager Dan O'Dowd described the move as the worst transaction he made in his 12-year term in that position.

[10] After retiring as a player, Bartee returned to baseball as a coach, at least in part because the job provided health insurance.

[14] Bartee became a coach for the Delmarva Shorebirds[15] and also served as roving instructor for the Pittsburgh Pirates before landing the managerial job for the State College Spikes.